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.

So these are the facts. Add to them the allegations of corruption raised by the inhabitants of the affected regions. What emerges is the usual tale of good deeds being undermined by bad intentions. People employed in repairing the embankments have loudly made it known that the rice they were expected to get as part of the food-for-work programme in relation to the embankments simply did not materialise. Their opinion is that the rice allocated for them has been commandeered by the office bearers of the union parishads and officials of the Water Development Board. On the other hand, some UP chairmen have dismissed the charges on the ground that the presence of the army in the distribution of rice prevented any wrongdoing. At least one of them has placed the blame solely at the door of the WDB. Of the 1,042 tonnes of rice allocated vis-à-vis repair of embankment breaches, he has alleged, only 532 tonnes were distributed. Now, these are grave charges, from whatever angle one looks at them. And unless they are seriously handled, it will be the Aila victims who will go on suffering.

It should be borne in mind that it is generally around this time of year that nature creates havoc along Bangladesh's coastal areas. That should be warning enough for the authorities to sit up and take notice. A fresh disaster will lead to tragedy on an unimaginable scale. More importantly, at a time when environmental concerns have become a critical global issue and Bangladesh has turned into a focus of climate-related deliberations, such matters as Aila cannot simply be treated with cavalier indifference. Preparedness is of the essence.