A ludicrous act

In a disastrous move, the Water Development Board (WDB) gave directions to repair breeches on the embankment of Shib river in Ghasigram area under Mohonpur upazila of Rajshahi. The initiative was less than a well-thought-out move as topsoil was being removed from the length of the embankment that was to be used to repair the damaged portion of the levee. It has both locals and experts worried who argue that cutting soil from the levee in the rainy season to repair the breeches will further weaken the embankment and that is precisely what has happened.

We are not sure whose bright idea it was to fill bags with soil instead of sand, as soil is more prone to being washed away and sand particles, being denser than soil, are better suited for the task. The floods have already adversely affected substantial areas of agricultural lands and the last thing we need is counterproductive interventions by local authorities.

The structure that needs repair should be done with the correct material which has been ignored by WDB and now more areas of Rajshahi's Mohonpur upazila have experienced fresh inundation. It is time to stop this madness and take sensible corrective measures to strengthen the embankment and not weaken it.