Most Ashrayan project houses lie abandoned

Over 900 houses of 17 Ashrayan projects in Amtali and Taltali upazilas under Barguna district have become unfit for use due to lack of proper maintenance.

Materials including CI sheets, iron angles, doors, windows, and partitions are being stolen from different Ashrayan projects in the two upazilas.

Construction of houses for rehabilitation of landless ultra poor people, and river erosion victims under Ashrayan project started in 1991 with a special project funded by the Prime Minister's Office and later the Japanese government provided fund for the purpose after the onslaught of super cyclone Sidr in 2007, Amtali upazila land office sources said.

With both the funds, eight Ashrayan projects were completed in Amtali and nine in Taltali upazila, comprising a total of 1,510 houses in 298 barracks.

At least 577 families including 343 in Amtali and 234 families in Taltali upazila are living in as many houses of these projects while the other houses have become unfit for use, sources said, adding that those were built with low quality materials.

Consequently, the allottee families left the houses, said several residents of these Ashrayan project.

A gang is involved in stealing different materials from the houses for long but the police have not taken any effective step regarding the matter, sources said.

Visiting Jugia Ashrayan project in Arpangashia union, Chaula project in Atharogachia union, Kalibari project in Chaura union, Kalagachia project in Gulishakhali union under Amtali upazila, many houses were seen left with only concrete pillars and iron structures as the CI sheets and other materials had been stolen.

Recently a gang took away CI sheets from some houses and locals informed secretly to police who recovered 12 CI sheets from a house of Kalibari village.

Md Israfil Hossain, Amtali upazila project implementation officer, said, houses have been built under our supervision but local land office should maintain it properly.

Sukumer Roy, OC of Amtali police station, said, "After getting information from local people we recovered some CI sheets that were allegedly stolen from Kalibari Ashrayan project. If anyone files cases in this regard we will take lawful step."