Excavation of a canal by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in Barisal has been suspended after a building tilted in Mehendiganj upazila on Thursday.
The work was stopped after a two-storey building tilted and five other houses developed cracks, said Sub-divisional Engineer Rokon uz Zaman of the LGED.
“But we are not sure whether the damage was due to the excavation,” he added.
The owner of the damaged building and former municipality councilor Anisur Rahman Jamaddar said the unplanned canal excavation has damaged several buildings of the area, including a one-storey building adjacent to his house.
Many people are moving out of these properties due to the dangerous conditions, he added.
Locals claim that the workers at the site were keeping the dug-up soil right beside the canal again, causing them to worry that it would fall into the water again and prevent cargo boats from passing through the narrow canal.
Executive Engineer Sharif Jamal Uddin of LGED said the buildings which were damaged were constructed occupying the canal’s land. The people of the area were informed of the excavation plan three days prior.
“However, as some damages were reported, the project on that part of the canal has been temporarily suspended. If a legally owned building is damaged, owners can demand compensation from the contractors.”