52 sluice gates inoperative for 2 weeks

All the sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage, country's largest irrigation project, on the Teesta river at Dowani in Hatibandha upazila have remained inoperative since its automatic machine went out of order in a fire incident on October 15.

People living in nearby areas said due to the closed sluice gates water from the upstream keeps hitting the barrage all the time and it might cause a serious disaster if the flow of water from the upstream in India sees a sudden increase.

Water Development Board (WDB) completed the process of automation under the project Teesta Barrage Automation Scheme at a cost of Tk 7 crore last year.

First Com Service and Vision Comtel, a Bangladesh-India joint venture company, started the installation work in February 2017 and handed over the project to the authority concerned in December the same year.

Gaddimari Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Atiar Rahman said “The automatic machine was burnt after only ten months of installation due to use of substandard electric cables, circuits and other electrical accessories in the setups.”

In-Charge of Dowani Police Camp Sub-Inspector Afwazul Islam said on the night of October 15 he suddenly saw fire in the barrage automatic machine and WDB employees were trying to douse it.

WDB officials and staff, however, brought the blaze under control after over an hour of hectic efforts, locals said.

Executive Engineer (Mechanical) of Dalia Teesta Barrage Mohammad Shamsuzzoha said all the 52 sluice gates of the barrage became inoperative after the automatic machine went out of order in a fire that originated from an electric short circuit.

As the project is under 18-month warranty period coverage the construction firm concerned should take the responsibility to repair it, the engineer said.

Golzar Rahman, a representative of the joint venture company, said his office has already started the work of reinstallation of the burnt cables and other accessories to make the machine operative soon.