Unplanned acts responsible for prolonged floods

Environmentalists, civil society members and public representatives have termed anti-nature activities including encroachment of water bodies and construction of unplanned embankments as the main cause of prolonged floods in three upazilas in Moulvibazar and eighr upazilas of Sylhet. 

“Construction of a one and a half kilometre-long embankment on Hakaluki Haor in Pitaitikor Burikiari area of Fenchuganj upazila under Sylhet in 2004 is responsible for the massive waterlogging in the area,” Azizur Rahman, chairman of the Bhukshimul union parishad in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar, told this correspondent.

He demanded immediate removal of the unplanned embankment as it blocks passage of water and destroys Boro and Aush paddy in the area.

“As wetlands and rivers are dying due to continuous grabbing, water from the upstream fills the floodplains within a short time and overflowing water causes flood and waterlogging,” said Abdul Hye Al-Hadi, chief executive of Save the Heritage and Environment.

Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon's Sylhet chapter, said the Surma, Kushiara and Monu rivers are being filled and polluted by grabbers while illegal sand and stone extractions are causing damage to different rivers including Piain, Sari and Dholai.

“In the last two decades, 40-45 percent width of the 110 km-long area of the Surma river in Sylhet, out of the 230-km-long river, has been lost. Besides, the Kushiara's 120-km-long area in the district, out of the river's total 210-km-long area has lost much of its depth,” Sirajul Islam, executive engineer of Water Development Board in Sylhet, said.

Narayan Saha, former head of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology made some recommendations, including effective steps to recover water bodies and canals, dredging rivers, preparing a master plan for drainage system, long-term and short-term plans to remove waterlogging and utilise rainwater.

Hazi Alauddin, general secretary of Haor Bachao Krisok Bachao Andolon, demanded proper investigation and action against those who grabbed the lands of rivers and haors and built embankment in Burikiari area of Fenchuganj upazila in Sylhet.