An embankment-cum-drainage project was taken up five years back to mitigate the sufferings of people, but the project is yet to be approved.

Besides flooding and erosion, water-logging is a constant problem in the low-lying coastal town.

The embankment-cum-drainage project was undertaken following visit of former Agriculture Minister Majid-ul-Haque and the then Bangladesh Water Development (BWDB) secretary to Patuakhali in 1997. The Water Resources Ministry approved the project, but the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) is sitting on it, Patuakhali municipality chairman Mostaq Ahmed told this correspondent on Friday.

A project was undertaken in the sixties to protect Patuakhali town and the coastal upazilas of Bauphal, Dashmina, Kalapara, Galachipa and Mirjaganj from flood and saline water. Later, the town was excluded from the project.

Afterwards, a new project titled' Patuakhali Town Protection Embankment-Cum-Drainage Project' was taken up. At present the town inundates even after normal rise in river water. The most vulnerable areas in the town are Puran Bazaar, Kathpatti, Nabab Para, Shimulbagh, Muslimpara, Adalatpara, College Roadpara, Sabujbagh, Arambagh, Kalikapur and Jainkati where water remains stagnant for days together after high tide or rain.

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

The project includes construction of 4.20-kilometre flood control embankment, eight water drainage sluice gates, 28 outlets, one kilometre wall and installation of four power pumps.