Over 20,000 people of 14 villages under Bedkasi union in Koyra upazila of Khulna are passing every day in fear of flooding as no initiative has been taken to repair an embankment that has developed breaches.
Vast tracts of croplands will go under saline water at any moment if the embankment is not protected from erosion by the Kopotakkho and Shakbaria Rivers in Goalkhali and Angtihara areas, said the locals.
Villagers said they were trying to protect the embankment with bamboo and sacks of sand. But this effort is not enough to stop the continuous crack and erosion, developing on the embankment, which could result in flooding homesteads.
The locals alleged the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) is turning a blind eye to their sufferings despite repeated appeals .
On 14 November last year, a local official of WDB had inspected the embankment. However, the authorities did not take any visible actions to protect the embankment yet, said Belal Hossain, a member of Dakkhin Bedkashi Union Parishad.
"If the authorities do not repair the embankment soon, at least 14 villages could be flooded with saline water. It will severely affect the livelihood of the villagers." said Belal Hossain.
The embankment collapsed four to five times, which were repaired temporarily by the locals, but we want a permanent solution, added the UP member.
This correspondent also spoke with some villagers who have lost their sleep over the fear of river embankment collapse.
We are left at a disadvantage by the erosion of Kopotakkho River. As soon as the water in the river starts rising, the villagers start losing their sleep, said Bashar Ali Molla, a resident of Golkhali village under Koyra upazila.
Locals take it upon themselves to repair the embankment temporarily when cracks develop. But, they are living in fear as the Water Development Board is not keeping their words to build a permanent embankment," said Shamsur Rahman, Chairman of Dakshin Bedkashi Union Parishad.
Acknowledging the situation, Water Development Board (Amadi office) Section Officer Moshiul Abedin said: "The embankment at Golkhali area is in precarious condition. We have notified the higher authorities of the breaches that are taking place."
"I hope the problem will be solved very soon" added Moshiul Abedin.
