Work to protect banks of Surma, Kushiyara stalled
Work under the Tk 21 crore project for protecting the banks of Surma and Kushiyara rivers at different points of Sylhet-Assam border have remained suspended for over six months while the crucial border areas see widespread erosion.
The three-year project started in fiscal year (FY) 2009-2010 following a decision at a joint meeting of officials of the Water Development Board (WDB), Sylhet region, and the Water Resources Division of Karimganj, Assam, as the total programme involved both sides of the border rivers.
The Water Resources Department in Assam has completed necessary protection works on the other side along their riverbanks but WDB did only a small portion of the work for embankment reconstruction and river bank protection on their part.
Consequently, the border areas see large-scale erosion and land loss to Bangladesh side, especially during the last few weeks, locals said, adding that it may take serious turn any time if immediate measures are not taken.
Taken up two years ago, the three-year project includes 670-metre riverbank protection at Amolshid, where Barak River from Indian territory bifurcated and entered Bangladesh as Surma and Kushiyara, and at Lakshmibazar, and the reshaping of Kushiyara dyke along a stretch of six kilometres in FY 2009-2010.
Some works were done the following FY (2010-2011), but Tk 1.5 crore arrear dues to contractors are yet to be paid due to fund constraints, sources said.
In FY 2010-2011, river protection works along 890-metre-long areas at Bhaktipur, Digholi, Amolshid and Haidrabond was to be done and tender was also processed about 11 months ago. But the authorities have failed to start the works as yet.
Besides, river protection along another 600-metre stretches at Bhuiyarmora and Haidrabond is to be done under the three-year plan.
WDB did works for Kushiyara dyke reshaping along only three and a half kilometres against the targeted 12 km in two years. Due to delay in implementation of the embankment protection project, erosion is already taking its toll at places.
Inhabitants of the bordering villages concerned are now worried about protection of their land from erosion as full implementation of the project seems 'uncertain' due to unfinished works of the last fiscal year.
Of the total allocation of Tk 21 crore for the three-year programme, only Tk 3 crore was sanctioned till the last FY while another 4.85 crore has been sanctioned for the current FY (2011-2012), sources said.
"Tender process for some four packages was completed on November 21. Upon evaluation, things will be finalised soon and hopefully works will start in a month," said the executive engineer of WDB, Sylhet, on Monday.
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