CA pledges permanent solution to river erosion

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed distributes relief among the flood-affected people at Chandanbaisha union under Sariakandi upazila in Bogra and Khokshabari union under Sadar upazila in Sirajganj yesterday.Photo: PID

Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said the government is working on a permanent solution to the havoc caused by river erosion by building permanent flood-protection embankment and implementing other measures in the country's flood-prone areas.
He said this while talking to reporters after distributing food relief among flood-affected people at Spur-1 on Bogra's Sariakandi flood-protection embankment.
Earlier, he visited the eroded portion of the embankment at Talukdarpara.
Fakhruddin said he has already instructed the authorities concerned to finish all development work in the dry season completing the tender process by December.
He said he has discussed ways of permanent prevention of river erosion and erosion-triggered sudden flooding with the Water Development Board and the Water Resources Ministry.
Assuring that the government will extend all necessary support to the flood-affected people, he said the local administration and the joint forces are working together to alleviate the sufferings of the flood victims.
He said the authorities opened medical centres in the flooded areas keeping an eye on ensuring safe drinking water there.
Bogra Deputy Commissioner Humayun Kabir briefed the chief adviser on relief operation in the upazila, flood damage and the reason why a portion of the embankment along the Jamuna gave way.
The CA talked to refugees at Naukhila PN High School flood shelter, assuring them that the government is beside them.
Later, the chief adviser flew to visit Sirajganj Town Protection Embankment along the Jamuna at Ekdala and nearby Gunergati in Sirajganj sadar upazila. He gave out rice, pulses, dates and edible oils among flood victims there.
Talking to reporters after distributing the relief, the CA said floodwater did not flow into Sirajganj town this time because of quick approval and completion of an embankment after last year's devastating floods.
He hoped that construction of spurs along the Jamuna in Sirajganj would be completed within this year.
"If necessary, the government will provide house-building loan," he said.
In Sirajganj, 19,963 families in five upazilas have been affected by the floods. The number of marooned families in Sariakandi stands at 3,050. Three hundred and sixty-six families have hit the eight shelters there.
The chief adviser flew back to Dhaka in the afternoon.