Aila-affected embankments at risk

IN all the time since Cyclone Aila hit the south and south-western region of the country, one would have thought life had gone back to normal. But that is far from the truth. As a report in this newspaper suggested a few days ago, there are still some major embankments in the affected region that need to be put back in order. For the inhabitants of the areas in question, the situation is made worse by the fact that they must wait a few months more before the breaches in the embankments can be repaired. And these embankments happen to be situated in some of the worst-hit upazilas in Satkhira, namely Shyamnagar and Ashashuni. Although the water level in the rivers has dropped, the breaches remain the route for water to enter a number of villages in the upazilas. That has only added to the misery of the inhabitants. Besides, a number of new cracks have developed because of the rains of a month or so ago. That led to the Water Development Board suspending work on a repair of the breaches. It was given out that the water level, a shortage of earth and non-availability of government allotment were behind the work suspension.