Cracks develop on 30-km flood control embankment
Large ditches and cracks have developed on 30 kilometre of Sundarganj-Kamarjani flood control embankment-cum-road due to heavy downpour for the last one month, causing immense sufferings to people.
The dyke on the western bank of the Brahmaputra river is also being used as a road connecting Tarapur, Belka, Kapasia, Chandipur, Sreepur and Kanchibari unions with Sundarganj upazila headquarters. So, the road always remains busy with movement of battery-run easy-bikes, tractors and motorcycles.
Locals said the road has been in awful state as over 30 large and small ditches and cracks have developed on it, hampering smooth movement of vehicles. Due to heavy rainfall, the cracks and ditches are widening rapidly, they said.
The situation turns worse at night when three-wheelers fell into the ditch due to reckless driving, said locals.
The dyke may collapse anytime as floodwater started engulfing the area, they said, adding that any initiative is yet to be taken to renovate the breaching points of the dyke.
Pedestrians, especially students, are the worst sufferers.
Afsana Khatun, a student of Dhumaitari Fazil Madrasa, said they have to attend their madrasa taking risk while passing through the ditches filled with water. `
Al Amin, an easy bike driver under Belka union, said it now takes about three hours to reach Sundarganj upazila bazar, whereas it was only an hour journey earlier.
Nafiul Islam Jimy, chairman of Hariput union parishad (UP), said there are 10 large cracks and ditches created from BBC turning point to Panchpeer Bazar due to heavy rainfall, but no initiative is taken to repair the ditches.
Ibrahim Khalillulah, chairman of Belka UP, said a large-scale ditch has developed at Dhumaitari point.
Upazila Engineer Mohammed Abul Mansur said although the dyke is under the jurisdiction of Water Development Board, Local Government Engineering Department is also looking after the maintenance of road, so initiative for renovation of the road will be taken soon.
Comments