Rapair dyke to save eight villages from flooding

People of eight villages in Madhabpur union under Kamalganj upazila of the district formed a human chain at Simultala in Dhalai River area yesterday, demanding immediate steps to repair the flood control embankment that collapsed in the area due to erosion by the river three weeks ago.

Over a hundred farmers joined the human chain led by Chandra Badan Singha, the oldest man in the union, at 5:30pm to mount pressure on the authorities concerned to meet the demand.

Kamalganj Upazila Parishad Chairman Rafiqur Rahman and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Mahmudul Haque assured the participants that they would take necessary steps as soon as possible to repair the dyke.

Locals said over 250 metres of the embankment collapsed in Simultala area, letting water enter the eight villages. Local farmers are facing uncertainty about aman paddy cultivation as water still remains stagnant in vast areas of agricultural lands.

Pushpo Lal Kanu, chairman of Madhabpur Union Parishad, said eight villages were inundated following the collapse of the flood control embankment, but government has not taken any action yet to repair the embankment.

"The authorities concerned should take immediate steps to repair the embankment to prevent further damage," he said, adding that Water Development Board (WDB) repaired the embankment last year but it collapsed due to low quality work.

Contacted, Foizur Rob, executive engineer of WDB, told this correspondent that they had submitted a proposal in this regard to the authorities concerned. "We will repair the embankment when we get the funds," he added.