With Hossainpur Union Parishad chairman Makhan Chandra in the chair, speakers at the rally claimed that the breaches are not renovated despite allocation of Tk 84 lakh for it. The rally was held Saturday afternoon.

The villagers offered all possible help by supplying bamboo, wood and labour and said the breaches can be renovated in only two weeks if 500 labourers are engaged.

The embankment breached at four points in Kishamat Cherenga, Nayapur, Bishawnath and Bogulagari and is vulnerable at more 24 points. Several lakh people will be affected in the coming monsoon if these are not repaired, they said.

The embankment was constructed by WDB in 1991 to save the people of Hossainpur, Kishoregari and Darbastha unions from flood and erosion.

The villagers alleged that the embankment breached as it was not constructed as per specification, causing recurring floods in three unions.

When contacted, WDB officials admitted allocation of funds and said work could not be started due to complexity in land requisition. They however said the problem will solved soon.

The flood in 2005 caused a loss of at least Tk 10 crore in damage to crops, cattleheads, roads and houses, the villagers claimed.

In last three years, Karatoa changed its course in Kishmat Cherenga and took a U shape, touching the embankment. Local people earlier demanded re-excavation of one kilometre area of the river to straighten it to reduce water pressure on the embankment. But no step was taken in this regard, they said.

The local people and chairmen of three Union Parishads said if the breached points are not renovated the Bogra-Rangpur national highway will be affected in the next rainy season.