Moshiur Rahman Firoz, Satkhira
Thousands of people have been stranded in Satkhira by flood as the coastal dams, which were damaged due to cyclone Amphan, are still unrepaired. about 50 villages in four unions have been inundated due to the breach of the ring dam following strong tide of the river.
Pratapnagar and Sriula unions at Asashuni upazila were flooded on Friday (August 21). Earlier on Thursday (August 20) afternoon, two villages were flooded when a dam broke in Nebugunia area of Gabura union at Shyamnagar upazila.
GM Masudul Islam, Chairman of Gabura Union Parishad (UP), said that the dam in Lebugunia area collapsed due to strong tide in Kopotaksh. The village has been flooded. Thousands of people have been stranded.
He added that Army has been given the responsibility to repair the dam. They will begin work in November.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Shyamnagar Abuzar Ghiffari said erosion had occurred at several points in Gabura area. Water is entering the locality during high tide. Work has started to repair the dam. No one has informed me about the water blockade yet. On the other hand, half a hundred villages have been flooded due to breach of dams of Kopotaksh and Kholpetua rivers in Asashuni.
Vice-Chairman of Asashuni Upazila Parishad Asim Baran Chakraborty said local UP chairmen had built a ring dam with bamboo after the cyclone. That dam has all been broken by the tide. The Kapulaksh and Kholpetua river dams have been breached and Sriula and Pratapnagar unions have been completely inundated. Millions of people have been flooded. Hazrakhola area of Sriula Union and Kurikaonia, Hijlia, Kola, Chakla and Harishkhali areas of Pratapnagar Union have been flooded. He further said that these dams broke during the cyclone Amphan and these were not repaired till now. The whole area has been flooded again by the tidal water of the river.
Abul Khair, executive engineer (Shyamnagar) of Satkhira Water Development Board, said local people and the administration had built a ring dam in Nebugunia after the cyclone. It has broken six points. Work is underway to repair them. There were two more breakdowns around noon on Friday. We have started work for reform.
Executive Engineer (Asashuni) of Satkhira WDB Sudhanshu said erosion has occurred in various places including Chakla, Hijla and Kola. Army has been tasked with repairing dams in Chakla Hijla and Kola areas.
They did not start work as it was raining. As soon as they get a working environment, they will start protecting the dam.
He added that the Water Development Board has been working with the people's representatives to repair the dams in the areas where erosion has taken place.
