Irregularities in repair of Dhepa river embankment

Allegations of irregularities have been raised over renovation of the Dhepa river embankment using sand by Water Development Board (WDB) in Biral upazila of the district.

Locals alleged that WDB is repairing the flood control embankment that developed several cracks at different points along the river during the flood last year using sand and may collapse again if the water level increases further in the ongoing rainy season.

The most vulnerable points of the flood control embankment include Chawkchawka, Maljhar and Dumurtoli area in the upazila.

People living in the areas said the earthen flood control embankment, constructed about 29 years ago along Dhepa river, was washed away at different points due to increase of water level during the flood in August last year, eroding vast tracts of cropland and many homesteads in those areas.

Cracks have developed in at least 60 points, damaging nearly 100 bridges and around 200 kilometre road in nine out of 13 upazilas of the district.

Earlier, Dinajpur WDB authorities floated a tender for the repair work of the damaged embankment in February this year. 

According to the tender, earth and bamboos are supposed to be use in the repair work and the embankment should be covered up with grass for strengthening its stability.

But locals alleged that the contractor concerned is repairing the embankment using sand extracted from the river.

During a recent visit to the area this correspondent found labourers repairing the damaged points of the embankment using sand collected from nearby Dhepa river and later covering the sand with thick earthen layer.

“Use of sand is not enough to tackle the huge pressure of the river water,” Nazrul Islam of Chawkchawka village said, adding that they have informed the WDB officials several times about the irregularities, but they did not pay heed to their complaint.

Many villagers said if the water level of Dhepa river further increases the sand-made embankment will surely be washed away and their croplands nearby the embankment will be covered with sand.

Meanwhile, an engineer of WDB in Dinajpur, seeking anonymity, said it would have been good if the contractor concerned used sand bags rather than using it directly from the river, and it may be washed away again if the water level of the river increases.

Motiur Rahman, a sub-contractor of the embankment repair work, said it is a new method of repairing embankments as there is a shortage of earth in the locality.

Dinajpur WDB Executive Engineer Foyzur Rahman said they have special instruction to rebuild the damaged embankment using sand to stop waste of soil.