An embankment cum drainage project was proposed 10 years ago to mitigate the sufferings of people, but the project is yet to take off. Besides flooding, water logging is a constant problem in the low-lying areas of the coastal town. Erosion also devours huge areas of the district every year.

The embankment cum drainage project was proposed following visit of the then agriculture Minister Majid-Ul-Haque and then Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) secretary to Patuakhali in 1997.

The water resources ministry nodded to the project, but the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) is still sitting on it, Abu Zafor Shamsuddin, acting chairman of Patuakhali Pourasabha said.

A project was undertaken in the Sixties to protect Patuakhali town and coastal upazilas of Baufal, Dashmina, Galachipa, Kalapara and Mirzagonj from flood and saline water. Later the town was dropped from the project.

Afterwards, a new project titled 'Patuakhali town protection embankment cum drainage project' was planned at a cost of about Tk 17 crore.

The new project was designed to protect the town from flash flood, erosion and remove stagnant water.

The project includes construction of 4.20 km flood control embankment, eight water drains, eight sluice gates, 38 outlets, one km wall and installation of four power pumps.

At present the town goes under water even after normal rise of river water. The most vulnerable areas in the town are Puran Bazar, Nababpara, Shimul Bagh, Katpatti, Collage Road, Adalat Para, Muslim Para, Sabuj Bagh, Aram Bagh, Char Para, Girls School Road, Chalkbazar, Munsef Para where water remains stagnant for days after high tide or rain.

About 50,000 people of these areas suffer a lot as water inundates most of their houses and business establishments.

Patuakhali town is surrounded by Lawkathi river in the north and Lohalia river in the east. Water from the rivers roll into the town whenever the mark rise. Two-thirds of the town go under 2 to 5 feet flood or rain water.

'I cook (food) during low tide and feed my children and husband during high tide,' housewife Putul in Nabanpara cut a joke while talking to this correspondent.

'Because my kitchen inundates during high tide,' she added with a faded smile.

There are many like Putul in the area.

Most of the businessmen incur loss as their shops and trading houses get flooded in the rainy season specially from month of June to October every year, Harun Munshi, a businessman of Puran Bazar said.

'We sent several letters including memorandum to higher authority concerned to take necessary step to protect the town but in a vain,' lamented Md Awal, Vice-president of Patuakhali Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

A team from water ministry visited Patuakhali in January in 2006 to identify importance of the project. They also submitted their report in favour of the project recommending immediate steps for its implementation.

Zahir Ahmed, executive engineer of BWDB said, 'We have sent over 100 letters to the higher authority to implement the project but in a vain.'