Aila-hit people demand repair of breached dikes
The people affected by cyclone Aila on May 25 last year have demanded steps for early repair of the major breaches in the embankments to save them from further disasters during the next monsoon.
They demanded that the government allocate adequate fund in the next budget for reconstruction of embankments that were built in early 60's to save the coastal people in the country.
They made the demand at a discussion on "Embankment in the Aila affected areas: Needs transparency and accountability in management and reconstruction" jointly organised by Satkhira Sachetan Nagarik Committee (Conscious Citizens' Committee) a unit of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), Global Water Partnership South Asia, Water Aid, Bangladesh Water Integrating Network and NGO Forum at Sadar upazila auditorium.
Awami League (AL) lawmaker Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the chief guest while Satkhira Deputy Commissioner Md Abdus Samad and Satkhira pourasava Mayor Sheikh Ashraful Haque were the special guests.
Zakir Hossain and Monzur E Khoda jointly presented the keynote paper while TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman moderated the discussion.
At least 190 people were killed, 4 lakh people became homeless, 237 km embankments were completely and 1557 km partially were damaged, crops on 3.23 lakh acres of land were damaged when the Aila hit the coastal areas in the country on May 25 last year, read the keynote paper.
"The shrimp cultivators draw saline water from the rivers by setting up pipes illegally through the embankments to cultivate shrimp in their enclosures in the coastal areas and it weakens the embankments.
"Even after ten months of the Aila, over two lakh people are still homeless and they are suffering from acute scarcity of safe drinking water.
"The WDB issued work order to nine contractors for reconstruction of nine breaches on the embankments in Gabura and Padmaukur unions in Shyamnagar upazila on December 24 last year but no progress was made to repair the breached embankments due to negligence of the WDB authorities," adds the keynote paper.
Other speakers emphasised the need for transparency and accountability in reconstruction work of the embankments.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments