Tidal surge delays work in nine Aila-hit upazilas

Khulna district administration could not begin work for implementation of the Employment Generation Project (EGP) scheduled from yesterday because of havoc caused by downpour and tidal surges in the Aila affected upazilas of the district.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Khulna Jamsher Ahmed Khandaker, the government has allocated Tk 6. 64 crore for implementation of the project in all nine upazilas of the district.
The deputy commissioner, who is heading a 36-member committee to monitor work of the project, said none would be given any scope to misappropriate money allocated for the project. Transparency in this respect would be maintained, he added.
Works for the Employment Generation Project include excavation of canals, construction of embankments, excavation of drains to remove waterlogging, construction of roads, renovation of derelict ponds, conservation of rainwater and construction of helipads.
Eleven thousand and sixty eight jobless but very poor people in nine upazilas of the district have been listed for providing them with employment opportunity under the project which was supposed to continue for 40 days with effect from October 10, said Khulna District Rehabilitation Officer (DRO) Md Atiar Rahman Biswas.
Each of the poor man or woman to be engaged for works would be paid Tk 150 per day. There would be no work on Thursday and Friday till conclusion of the project.
Works for implementation of the project was scheduled to be completed by December 15 this year, DRO said.
Some UP chairmen have raised objection to beginning of the project right now as most of the roads and fields are still under water due to recent downpour and tidal surges.
Construction of new and reconstruction of damaged embankments must not be started before winter as coastal districts are still under threat of deep depression, said Chairman Shahabuddin Ahmed of Maharajpur union of Koira upazila, Sheikh Hemayet Ali of Shurkhali union of Batiagahta upazila, Samaresh Chandra Roy of Kamarkhola union of Dakope upazila and Abdur Razzak Molongi of Godaipur union of Paikgacha upazila of the district.
The UP Chairmen urged the district administration not to start works of the project during rainy season as most of the Aila affected upazilas of the district are still bearing the brunt of cyclonic storms Sidr, Aila and recent downpour.
When contacted, UNO Md Sabur Hossain of Paikgacha, UNO Kazi Atiur Rahman of Dakope and UNO Sheikh Ali Akbar of Rupsha upazilas have also expressed the same view, saying that money allocated for implementation of the project will go waste if works for this purpose are started in their upazilas again affected and ravaged by downpour and tidal surges.