Residents of Moulvibazar are apprehensive that a vast tract of land might be eroded by Monu River this rainy season, as the district flood protection embankment is vulnerable.
It has been learned that the Chatigaon, Uttar-Chati, Kakirchak, Uzirpur, Kanjirpur, Ekamodhu, Adinabad, Swashmohol, Kalaikuna, Bholanagar, Premnagar and Khas-premnagar villages under Rajnagar upazila, the Chatlapur, Nishchintopur, Sultanpur, Ronchap, Madanagar, Hasimpur, Belertol, Kolirkuna, Rajapur, Ashroygram, Kotarkuna, Jalalpur, Khondakargram, Tajpur, Miarpara, Sondrabaz and Balia villages under Kulaura upazila and the Noarai, Chandpur, and Basudebsri villages under sadar upazila are at risk of flooding, as at least 33 cracks have developed at several points in the dam.
Locals allege they have already informed the Water Development Board (WDB) office several times, but no step has been taken in this regard.
The locals said the monsoon is knocking at their door. Thus, those who live on the river bank fear erosion.
Abdul Basit, a resident of Hazipur union of Kulaura upazila, said the earth of the embankment had already started collapsing at the Kawkapon, Sultanpur, Mondira, Ronchap, and Hakimpur villages.
Over the past years, the WDB worked routinely to repair the embankment, but in the last year, its activites have not been clear for unknown reasons.
Bimol Sutradhar of Ekamodhu village under Rajnagar upazila said, a few months back, two WDB officials had inspected the embankment in his area. The officials then told the local residents that after getting funds from the government, reconstruction work would start.
Abdul Latif, chairman of Prithimpasa union under Kulaura upazila, said the embankment might be washed away if the Monu River’s water level rises in the rainy season.
Nazmul Haque Selim, chairman of Kamarchak Union Parishad under Rajnagar upazila, said he had contacted the WDB Moulvibazar office.
He hoped the WDB would complete the repair work of the damaged Monu River embankment quickly.
Abdul Awal, a WDB sub-assistant engineer working at Kulaura upazila, said they are aware of the situation facing the embankment.
“After getting a fund allocation, work will be started,” he said.
According to the WDB Moulvibazar office source, a few works have been carried out at some extremely risky points of the Chak-Salon, Chatlapur, Nischintapur, Aminagar, Miarpara and Bholanagar villages. A tender has been called for Chati-Kunagaon, and work would start at Kunagaon within a few days.
Fayzur Rab, executive engineer of the WDB Moulvibazar office, said they had marked 33 points on both banks of the Monu River embankment.
“We have done repair works at some points with an allocated fund. Work will also start soon at other risky points,” he said.
The executive engineer further said Tk5 crore was sought by senior authorities to repair and reconstruct the river embankment. Tk60 lakh has been allocated so far.