As money has been misappropriated while building embankments in coastal areas, it comes to the fore that embankments have been built but the flood prone areas in the coastal areas have increased, and so have the miseries of the people.
Many affected people alleged that massive corruption in building embankments in the coastal areas of the country has caused excessive flash floods at the hit of super cyclone Amphan.
They called for immediate initiatives of the government to properly construct all embankments to save lives and properties of the coastal people.
According to the statistics of Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, the water that broke through the embankments has affected 1,80,500 hatcheries in the coastal regions. The loss will be approximately Tk325 crore.
Md Siddique Hossain, a resident of Dakkin Ramna village under Ramna Upazila of Borgona district said, “Before the previous cyclone, we repeatedly lobbied to the different local representatives and government offices for re-constructing the embankment to protect our areas.”
But they did not pay any heeds to our appeal, he alleged.
He said, “After all cyclones, many officials from the local administration come to visit us to know our condition. But few days later, they never look after our miseries due to low quality embankments.”
When Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sabrina Sultana was visiting the affected areas on Thursday, Siddique made these allegations before her.
After the damage of the embankment, Cechan,Kolagachia,Dakkhin Safifur and Kakchira were also affected by the flash flooding, which damaged most of the homes.
Paddy and other crops were also damaged heavily.
But local people said if the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) would construct embankment properly, no water could enter by breaking the embankment during the flash flood.
PDB contactors cut some areas of the embankment in the name of constructing sluice gate at Safipur village. During the cyclone, water entered thorough there. As a result, many areas were affected by the flash flood, said local sources.
Abu Zafar Md Alamgir Hossain, Sub-Divisional Engineer of BWDB said, “We shall re-construct the damaged embankment very soon.”
UNO Sabrina Sultana said, “Due to the latest super cyclone, the weak embankment was damaged. As a result, the area was flooded.”
Due to the faulty constructions of embankment at Anowara Upazila in Chattogram, many areas were flooded.
More than one lakh people were victims of the flash flood, said local sources.
However, BWDB officials said as the construction of embankment was underway, people were victims of flash floods due to the cyclone.
Local sources said due to the strong tides, embankment in Raipur area of the Upazila was damaged badly.
Several large cracks developed on the embankment. Local people said, if the embankment is not reconstructed immediately, flash floods in future will seriously affect the local people and their lives.
They demanded to put adequate blocks on emergency basis.
BWDB sources said the embankment is 13 kilometer long. Due to some cracks on the embankment, water entered into some areas.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman said, “Extensive damage of approximately Tk1,100 crore has been anticipated in 26 districts that were hit by cyclone Amphan .”
He said, “Three districts that were affected most during the cyclone are Satkhira, Bagerhat and Patuakhali.”
According to him, the water that broke through the embankments has affected 1,80,500 hatcheries in the coastal regions. The loss will be approximately Tk325 crore.
Construction of embankment is a conventional practice for protecting people's lives and homes, agriculture and infrastructures from any types of floods.
Officials data said during the last few decades, nearly 13000 km of embankments have been repaired in the country.
Early flash floods often wash away standing crops causing loss of harvest if these embankments are broken.