Tidal waters swamp 15,000 residents of 12 villages in Patuakhali

Eight-kilometre-long stretch of embankment on riverbanks washed away

At least 15,000 residents of 12 villages on the Ramnabad and Andharmanik riverbanks near the estuary in Lalua and Mahipur unions of Kalapara upazila under Patuakhali district have been inundated by tidal waters. An eight-kilometre-long stretch of an embankment across both unions has been washed away.

The villagers blamed their plight on corruption and malpractices on the part of officials and employees of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB). Charipara, Chowdhurypara, Munshipara, Nayakata, Nawapara, Choto Pach No., Baro Pach No., Nizampur, Komorpur, Shudhirpur, Mahipur and Yusufpur villages are the worst affected.

Villagers living on Ramnabad and Andharmanik riverside villages have been submerged in tidal waters for the past 15 days. They are now encircled by water as two sides of the dam have collapsed. The villagers’ houses and all road links are currently submerged and they have perforce to rely on boats. Vast swathes of croplands have been submerged in three to five feet of water.

While the affected families have some rice and other materials, they cannot afford to cook. Villagers are unable to access places of worship. School-going boys and girls are totally dependent on the tide for reaching school.

Nannu Hawlader, a resident of Charipara village, said, “All the villages go underwater during the tide. Even the road is submerged.” Nasir Hawlader, Helal Hawladar and Kanchan Hawladar of the same village echoed him.

More than 200 families of Nawapara, Chowdhurypara, Nizampur, Yousufpur and Komarpur are very badly affected.

Local people were badly impacted by the supercyclone Sidr some time back. Since then, hundreds of crores of takas were spent to build alternative dams and ring embankments. Emergency repairs were also undertaken here. But because the project was not implemented properly as a result of corruption and various irregularities, the villagers did not reap the benefits.

Officials of the BWDB and connected contractors, however, were able to feather their own nests, sources alleged. After that, no other measure has been taken to repair or protect the embankments during the past two years.

Around two-and-a-half kilometres of the embankment have now merged with the Ramnabad and Andharmanik riverbanks. Again, many parts of the dam from Poshurbunia to Chandupara and Nizampur to Shudhirpur are still vulnerable.

The BWDB is not carrying out repairs on the damaged dam on the Ramnabad riverside since most of the land has been acquired for the Paira Port and Sher-e-Bangla Naval Base.

Kalapara BWDB executive engineer Abul Khayer said, “Most of the land in the Ramnabad area is under process of acquisition for the Paira port and the naval base station. There are no directives at present from the higher authorities regarding the maintenance of the embankment.

”The villagers have sought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s intervention to resolve their problems.

 

Tidal waters swamp 15,000 residents of 12 villages in Patuakhali

Eight-kilometre-long stretch of embankment on riverbanks washed away

At least 15,000 residents of 12 villages on the Ramnabad and Andharmanik riverbanks near the estuary in Lalua and Mahipur unions of Kalapara upazila under Patuakhali district have been inundated by tidal waters. An eight-kilometre-long stretch of an embankment across both unions has been washed away. The villagers blamed their plight on corruption and malpractices on the part of officials and employees of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB). Charipara, Chowdhurypara, Munshipara, Nayakata, Nawapara, Choto Pach No., Baro Pach No., Nizampur, Komorpur, Shudhirpur, Mahipur and Yusufpur villages are the worst affected. Villagers living on Ramnabad and Andharmanik riverside villages have been submerged in tidal waters for the past 15 days. They are now encircled by water as two sides of the dam have collapsed. The villagers houses and all road links are currently submerged and they have perforce to rely on boats. Vast swathes of croplands have been submerged in three to five feet of water. While the affected families have some rice and other materials, they cannot afford to cook. Villagers are unable to access places of worship. School-going boys and girls are totally dependent on the tide for reaching school. Nannu Hawlader, a resident of Charipara village, said, All the villages go underwater during the tide. Even the road is submerged. Nasir Hawlader, Helal Hawladar and Kanchan Hawladar of the same village echoed him. More than 200 families of Nawapara, Chowdhurypara, Nizampur, Yousufpur and Komarpur are very badly affected. Local people were badly impacted by the supercyclone Sidr some time back. Since then, hundreds of crores of takas were spent to build alternative dams and ring embankments. Emergency repairs were also undertaken here. But because the project was not implemented properly as a result of corruption and various irregularities, the villagers did not reap the benefits. Officials of the BWDB and connected contractors, however, were able to feather their own nests, sources alleged. After that, no other measure has been taken to repair or protect the embankments during the past two years. Around two-and-a-half kilometres of the embankment have now merged with the Ramnabad and Andharmanik riverbanks. Again, many parts of the dam from Poshurbunia to Chandupara and Nizampur to Shudhirpur are still vulnerable. The BWDB is not carrying out repairs on the damaged dam on the Ramnabad riverside since most of the land has been acquired for the Paira Port and Sher-e-Bangla Naval Base. Kalapara BWDB executive engineer Abul Khayer said, Most of the land in the Ramnabad area is under process of acquisition for the Paira port and the naval base station. There are no directives at present from the higher authorities regarding the maintenance of the embankment. The villagers have sought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas intervention to resolve their problems.