Sylhet flood control poject moves at a snail's pace
Water development Board's (WDB) flood control and irrigation project titled 'Upper Surma-Kushiyara Project' in northeastern Sylhet sees completion of only one-fifth of the work in eight years.
The project, originally estimated at Tk 111 crore with target of completion by 2005-2006 FY, started in 2001-2002.
With very progress by that time, the project underwent several revisions and Tk 32 crore has so far been spent for the Tk 132-crore revised project with target to complete it in 2009-10 FY, WDB sources said.
Now further time extension would be essential as it is impossible to complete it by the time, said an official.
Repeated floods, water stagnation and large-scale erosion along the banks of Surma and Kushiyara rivers caused huge damage to croplands and households in the region during the last few years.
Meantime, the project has been revised several occasions, escalating targeted expenditure and extending time for implementation.
The much talked 'Upper Surma-Kushiyara project' was designed for flood control, improvement of drainage system and introduction of better irrigation facilities in vast areas of Zakiganj, Kanaighat, Beanibazar, Golapganj and Sylhet Sadar upazilas of Sylhet. It begins from the starting point of Surma and Kushiyara at Amolshid border in Zakiganj upazila and runs up to Golapganj and Sylhet Sadar along the banks of Surma and Kushiyara rivers.
The works include construction and reconstruction of embankments along the banks of Surma and Kushiyara rivers in Zakiganj, Beanibazar, Kanaighat and Golapganj upazilas.
Shafiqul Islam, executive engineer of WDB, Sylhet, said successful implementation of the project would provide irrigation facilities for 38,000 hectares of land through the canals.
The progress of work is only 20 per cent and only Tk 32 crore had so far been spent, he said, adding that construction and reconstruction works of 41 km embankment has been done in bordering Zakiganj and Kanaighat upazilas.
A large portion of the sanctioned amount would be spent for land acquisition for embankment and canals, the official said.
Immediate measures are needed for construction of 25 kilometre embankment in Zakiganj, Kanaighat, Beanibazar and Golapganj upazilas to get benefit of the project and avert further escalation in expenditure, locals said.
Repeated and prolonged floods due to the gushing down of water from the upper stream in Indian hilly region left behind a colossal damage to crops and dwelling houses in the region last year.
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