SYLHET, Jan 7: At last works on only a crop protection scheme of the Water Development Board (WDB) was started Saturday. State minister for Finance & Planning MA Mannan, also lawmaker from the Dakshin Sunamganj-Jogonnathpur constituency formally inaugurated the works on the Noluar haor protection Scheme in Jogonnathpur upazila Saturday afternoon.
Inaugurating the scheme the state minister asked the officials and locals to ensure quality works and completing those within the government-set time frame, by 28 February. The new systems would help proper implementation of the schemes to protect the crops in time, he added.
WDB Executive Engineer Abu Baker Siddique, acting upazila chairman Bijon Kumar Deb, former upazila parishad chairman Akmal Hossain, Raniganj union Parishad chairman Shahidul Islam also addressed among others.
The crop protection works in the Sunamganj district had already been delayed by a month this year due to late recession of waters from haors an official informed today. However, many farmers alleged the delay is due to late formation of project committees and fund allocation.
Contacted, Superintending Engineer of the WDB, Sylhet circle, ASM Shahidul Islam told this correspondent Sunday, so far 1088 Project Implementation Committees had been formed in 11 upazilas of Sunamganj. Works on 4 to 5 other schemes would be started this week, he added.
The government had already sanctioned Tk 550 million for the crop protection schemes while another amount of Tk 450 is on the process of approval, he added, works would be done on the 48 major haors, protection of banks on Kushiyara, Khasismara and Cholti rivers in Sunamganj district to saving Boro paddy.
In the pretext of last year's corruption and large scale irregularities, the water resources ministry this year brought major changes in the project implementation process. As per decision taken at the highest level, the district level committee, headed by the Deputy Commissioner would supervise the works.
Under the latest decision, PIC formation was set to be completed by 30 November while starting works were to begin from December 15 for completing by 28 February. However, the deadlines couldn't be followed as yet for reasons while the officials claimed still it is possible to finish things in time.
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