Govt to use Netherlands’ experience to save Kuakata beach
The government will use the experience of Netherlands to protect Kuakata sea beach from continuation of erosion by the Bay. Plans have been made to implement the technology the country has implemented to protect their sea beach. Due to this, a high-level team, led by the secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, visited Netherlands two years ago.
State Minister for Water Resources Col (retd) Zahid Faruq Shamim said this while talking to reporters after visiting the eroded area of Kuakata beach on Saturday evening.
The state minister said they have seen the process by which Netherlands protected its sea beaches for its people. Accordingly, the survey has been completed after coming to Bangladesh. Now the DPP (Draft Project Proposal) will be prepared and sent it to the Planning Commission. Later, it will go to Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for final approval.
He added that the prime minister had directed to upgrade Kuakata and Cox's Bazar beaches to international standards. The projects would be implemented as soon as possible. Because if the two beaches are promoted to international standards, the country's prestige will increase. The economic growth and revenue will also be boosted.
Khan Mohammad Waliuzzaman, executive engineer of Water Development Board (WDB) in the district, said emergency measures have been taken to protect the 260-metre shoreline on the east and west sides of the zero points of the beach. Apart from that, 3,200 sand-filled geo-bags will be dumped at a cost of Tk 20 lakh to resist erosion. The work will start next week.
It is mentioned that a large area of Kuakata beach has been eroded by unusual waves due to strong currents and high tides in the Bay since August 20. At least 25 feet of the main road to the beach were washed away.
Besides, mosques, temple, tourist police shed, municipal public toilets and tourist parks along the road have been severely damaged. In addition, various species of trees on the beach and numerous tamarisk trees in the National Park of the Forest Department were uprooted.
Meanwhile, due to the severity of the breakdown, the submarine cable under the sand at the zero point of the beach came out from the sand and again threatened the internet service of the submarine cable.
On the other hand, if the authorities concerned do not take permanent measures to prevent the breach of the coast, the breach will continue to spread.
Earlier on August 27, Harun Aur Rashid, additional chief engineer of Water Development Board (WDB) in Patuakhali, visited the wreckage in Kuakata.
The WDB engineer said, "A permanent project to protect Kuakata beach has been prepared and sent it to the ministry. Once the project is approved, the work will begin to protect the entire beach."
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