Dyke collapse floods 30 villages
Only eight days into completion, dyke of Kachupatra Canal on the border of Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district and Amtali upazila of Barguna district collapsed due to high tide on Sunday.
Saline water flooded at least 30 villages of the two upazilas, causing damage to crops.
Water Development Board (WDB) took up a Tk 3.41 crore project to build the dyke to save agricultural land of the two upazilas from saline water of the Bay and gave work order to SJ & LKJB, a construction firm.
Construction of the 150 feet long embankment began on December 10 in 2010 and fished on February 12.
At around 3:00pm on Sunday, a portion of the dyke collapsed, flooding at least 30 villages of the two districts.
The affected villages include Karaibaria, Kachupatra, Badurgachha, Sarik khali, Balaibunia, Chaulapara, Hetalbaria, Angaria, North Jharakhali, South Jharakhali, Behala and Alir Bandar.
Badsha Talukder, former chairman of Karaibaria Union Parishad under Amtali upazila, said the dyke collapsed eight days into completion as piling work was not done properly.
Farmers of the affected villages fear that saline water may reduce fertility of hundreds of acres of their agricultural land.
Jahir Uddin, executive engineer of WDB in Barguna said, they have visited the site and also informed the higher authorities to take immediate steps to repair the embankment.
When contacted, State Minister for Water resources Mahbubur Rahman said he asked to officials concerned to take necessary measures in this regard.
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