Building haor protection dams urgent

There was no shortage of arrangements for the construction of crop protection embankments in the haors. But the farmers did not get those dams in time. As a result, the crops of the haor in Sunamganj are now under threat of getting washed away.
Flash flood caused by excessive rainfall and onrush of hilly water from the upstream is a common phenomenon for Sunamganj farmers. In March 2017, an early flood devastated Sunamganj haor areas' crops. And farmers lost Boro paddy on around 113,000 hectares. To save crops produced in haor areas, the government has taken up a project of building haor protection dams in the district. The construction work of these dams was supposed to end by February 26. Unfortunately, it is not done yet.
Several areas in India's Meghalaya and Cherrapunji have reportedly been submerged due to heavy rains. Fearing yet another early flood, many Sunamganj farmers are now harvesting their half-ripe paddy. There is growing fear in the minds of other farmers of losing their yields. Why is the construction of the dams neglected every year? We urge the authorities concerned to complete the dam construction projects in time. Otherwise, we will see more tragedies scripted again and again.

Abu Elias Linkon,
Banasree, Dhaka,
lightening_sparkle@yahoo.com