Reconstruction of enclosure and other structural development along a couple of polders in the coastal Dakop upazila has been ongoing from funds issued by the World Bank.
As around 85% of the work has come to an end, locals questioned the quality of the enclosure development during the final phases.
However, sources from the Khulna Water Development Board (WDB) said the work is in progress as planned and the allegations of low quality work are baseless.
One of such complaints is not elevating and widening the enclosure adequately. Responding to the matter, Khulna WDB Executive Engineer Md Ashraful Alam said: “The work at the polder area is progressing following the government circular and authorized design. There is no scope for deception in heightening and widening the enclosures.”
According to sources from WDB, the enclosure development at polder no32 and 33 in Khulna had been started in 2016 by a Chinese company called The First Engineering of Henan Conservation, under supervision of the WDB. Similar work by the company has also been ongoing along polder no 35/1 and 35/3 in Bagerhat.
The enclosure development work along four of the polders is scheduled to finish by June this year, with a total allocated fund of Tk900 crore by the World Bank.
The 52 kilometre enclosure development by polder no 32 has reached 70 % completion. Moreover, construction of a flashing sluice, and ten drainage sluice reached completion in the area. Two kilometre of river training work has also been completed.
Along the polder no 33, construction of 12 drainage sluices and nine flashing sluices has reached completion. River training work of 1.3 km out of 1.4 km is complete. The rest of the river training work will be completed by people in-charge of a bridge construction in Kalinagar. Most of the enclosure development work and canal dredging has also been completed.
A little over 85% of the development work has been completed jointly along both of the polders.
Mostofa Khan, a resident of Dakop upazila said: “Disproportionate work is visible at the enclosure development work by polder no 32 and 33 in Dakop upazila. The work was progressing differently in the beginning, but it looks like the enclosure has not been heightened and widened adequately in the end. Local leaders have submitted complaints to the WDB and upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) regarding the matter.”
Dakop UNO Abdul Wadud said: “We have received a variety of complaints regarding the enclosure development work. These have been discussed with the deputy commissioner, WDB and the contractor company. They said that the work is progressing as per schedule. If any problem occurs at the enclosure until June 30, the contractor company will provide a solution. The upazila administration has been monitoring the development work.”