Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has submitted a 234 crore Development Project Proposal (DPP) to the relevant ministry to protect a 4km sand-made dam, including some areas surrounding it on the bank of Jamuna river from Kornibari to Chandanvaishai in Shariakandi Upazila of the Bogra district.
Md Mamtaz Uddin, superintendent engineer (SE) of BWDB Bogra circle said the DPP was submitted on March, 2013 to protect a 6km river bank including the dam, but the proposal is yet to be accepted.
Md Nurul Islam Sarker, executive engineer (Ex-n) of BWDB Bogra said that according to the high-level meeting in October, 2009 the department had to build three sand-made dams in the upazila within a period of 2 to 3 years.
“A few months ago we had completed the work of the 4km sand-made dam at a cost of Tk14 crore according to the government’s decision” said Md Nurul Islam Sarker.
Local people complain that the dam is already under threat due to the serious river erosion on the right bank of the Jamuna River.
Md Momtaz Uddin said the bank and the dam will be protected using cement concrete (CC) blocks and other materials, including Geo-Textile bags.
Nurul Islam Sarker predicted the project cost to increase to Tk48 crore due to the delay in the decision.
“If we start the work within two months, hopefully we will finish the task before the next rainy season” he added.