The rubber dam constructed by Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) at a cost of Taka one crore 13 lakh beside Khasimara river at Doarabazaar upazila under Sunamganj in 2000 has turned inoperative as the water-pressure from upstream hill region demolished the rubber dam-Boktarpur road in 2014.
The rubber dam's utility proved to be ineffective due to flow of water through the road in 2014.
However, due to neither Water Development Board nor the LGED is taking responsibility to repair the dam even after seven-year of the damage of the dam and the adjacent road. As a result, farmers will not be able to cultivate Boro paddy on some 8,000 hectares of land of Surma, Luxmipur and Bogla Bazar unions.
Local people complained, due to use of low-quality construction materials, the rubber dam-Boktarpur road beside Khasimara river under Surma union washed away in water flow from the upstream hill region in 2014.
From the same year, the boro paddy farmers of the adjacent fields are failing to harvest their crops homes due to flooding of the areas from upward current from the hilly region. The adjacent roads, ponds and lands are also flooded due to the same reason.
The students are failing to go to their schools due to snapping of the road connection. Due to non-repair of the damaged part of the dam, sufferings of nearly 200,000 people of three-unions have been intensified. They have demanded to repair the dam as early as possible.
Azizur Rahman of Mirpur village said, due to damage of rubber dam, the Boro cultivation of the region is nearing extinction. He demanded an early repair of the dam to save lands of thousands of farmers.
Nurul Islam, Member of Surma union informed, the rubber dam damaged due to water current from upsteam for the negligence of the contruction farm. Even after seven year of the damage, the dam has not yet been repaired. He deamded an immediate repair of the dam.
Harjit Sarker, Senior Engineer of LGED informed every year embankment of Khasiamara river is breached due to down-stream current of water from the hilly region.
He added, Superintending Engineer of LGED from Dhaka had arrived here and talked to the local people about the dam. LGED wants to repair the dam but authorities of Water Developement Board did not agree to the process of the work that is why it was not possible to repair it.
Shamsuddoha, Executive Engineer of WDB, Sunamganj informed, he was a new comer in the district. He has visited the eroded areas of Khasiamara river at Doarabazaar. He added, since the LGED has implemented the rubber dam project that is why the LGED should also repair it.