Unprotected Singria village in Fulchhari in Gaibandha as the Brahmaputra flood control embankment is yet to be repaired.Photo: STAR

People of Fulchari are bracing for serious flooding again in the coming wet season as no initiative was taken in four years to renovate the breached Brahmaputra flood control embankment at three points.
The Brahmaputra breached its embankment at Singria, Ratanpur and Katlamari points in Fulchari upazila in 2004.
Last year, Gaibandha Water Development Board (WDB) floated tender for reconstruction of the three breached points but the work could not be started as funds were not allocated, WDB sources said.
The WDB undertook a plan for construction of an 'alternative' four-kilometer embankment alongside the damaged portions. Accordingly, the WDB prepared a project involving Tk 3 crore and floated tender of alternative dam. Approval of higher authorities was taken for this, WDB sources here said. But there was no progress.
To protect three unions in Fulchari from flooding, local WDB in August this sent an alternative proposal to higher authorities for riverbank protection work under FDR-7 project along the two kilometre flood control embankment from Singria to Katlamari. The project involved Tk 30 crore. The riverbank protection protect is being studied by higher authorities, they said.
Mwanwhile, local people led by chairmen of the worst affected three unionsUria, Udakhali and Fulcharilaunched a signature campaign and submitted memorandum to the water resource ministry WDB authorities in Dhaka for construction of a 'closer dam' on a Jamuna tributary near Kabilpur in Uria. Water entering through this channel floods three unions every year.
When contacted, Gaibandha WDB Executive Engineer Abu Md. Shafiul Azam said construction of 'closer dam' is very expansive. Moreover such dam is not feasible there due to high level of sandy layer and other technical reasons.