Dyke collapse sets off flooding in 15 villages

At least 15 villages in Kalapara upazila have been flooded by tidal water in the past three days due to a depression formed over Bay of Bengal. Saline water entered into these villages after collapse of flood control embankment at Charipara in Lalua union and at Nizampur-Komarpur in Mahipur union of the upazila. Aush and Aman paddy on several acres of land in 15 villages have gone under saline water, said local people. Farmers of these villages have become frustrated, they said.
Amir Howlader, 75, an inhabitant of Nizampur village, said water entered their houses during high tide in the past two days. There is no place left dry in the village. The people of five villages of Mahipur union are living on flood control embankment.
 Local sources said the flood control embankment at Nizampur-Komarpur point was washed away by the super cyclone Sidr. Later, the damaged embankment was repaired several times, but it was damaged again last year after the portion was slammed by high waves. However, locals blamed use of low quality materials during repair for embankment collapse. Besides, lifting of sand at Khajura point and sea estuary by influential people is contributing to breakdown of the embankment.
 Mahipur UP chairman Salam Akand said, “We have informed BWDB’s executive engineer about this risky flood control embankment. Local MP Mahbubur Rahman and the BWDB’s executive engineer assured them of repair of the embankment during their visit.”
BWDB executive engineer Abul Khaier said, “The repair works of the embankment will begin soon.”

 

Dyke collapse sets off flooding in 15 villages

At least 15 villages in Kalapara upazila have been flooded by tidal water in the past three days due to a depression formed over Bay of Bengal. Saline water entered into these villages after collapse of flood control embankment at Charipara in Lalua union and at Nizampur-Komarpur in Mahipur union of the upazila. Aush and Aman paddy on several acres of land in 15 villages have gone under saline water, said local people. Farmers of these villages have become frustrated, they said. Amir Howlader, 75, an inhabitant of Nizampur village, said water entered their houses during high tide in the past two days. There is no place left dry in the village. The people of five villages of Mahipur union are living on flood control embankment. Local sources said the flood control embankment at Nizampur-Komarpur point was washed away by the super cyclone Sidr. Later, the damaged embankment was repaired several times, but it was damaged again last year after the portion was slammed by high waves. However, locals blamed use of low quality materials during repair for embankment collapse. Besides, lifting of sand at Khajura point and sea estuary by influential people is contributing to breakdown of the embankment. Mahipur UP chairman Salam Akand said, We have informed BWDBs executive engineer about this risky flood control embankment. Local MP Mahbubur Rahman and the BWDBs executive engineer assured them of repair of the embankment during their visit. BWDB executive engineer Abul Khaier said, The repair works of the embankment will begin soon.