As natural calamity comes after another, the markets, homesteads, and croplands are also disappearing due to severe erosion of the Payra-Bishkhali-Baleshwar rivers in Barguna near the Bay of Bengal. Families who were once well-to-do are becoming destitute losing their homes. Although there are some steps by Water Development Board to protect the dam, but it is not working to protect the life and property of the coastal people. In areas where renovation is being done outside of sustainable dam construction projects, it is also not working.
It was known that there are 805 km embankments under 22 polders of Barguna district. Out of this, 13 km embankment conservation, 9 km embankment slope conservation and 51 km repair work are underway at a cost of Tk 1577 crore. Apart from this, two projects worth around 2000 crore taka for conservation, repair, and river conservation of the 69 km dam slope are awaiting approval from the Planning Commission. However, the 1.5 km dam in Paler Baliatli area of Sadar upazila and 2.5 km dam in Tentulbaria area of Taltali upazila are currently in very dangerous condition.
Md Chagir Hossain from Baliyatali area of Sadar Upazila said, we have been making demands to the government and the water development board in various ways including human chains to protect the embankment since a few years ago. But they did not take any effective action and the embankment collapsed. Now the dam is being renovated in various ways. However, this repair will not be of any use to save the life and property of locals. On the other hand, dams have been constructed several times in Tentulbaria and Jayalbhanga areas in Taltali upazila of the district in the name of emergency repairs. But as the years go by, it gets lost in the river. Coastal people are living with risk. At least 73 km of dams are vulnerable at multiple points including Jinintala, Padma, Kalmegha, Kakchira in Patharghata upazila, Ramna in Bamna upazila, Bamna and Kalikabari in Betagi upazila.
Md Rakib , the executive engineer of Barguna Water Development Board said that two projects of Barguna have already started. Two more projects are awaiting for approval. If these projects are implemented, the damaged dam of Barguna will be repaired gradually. He said, if any accident occurs anywhere in between, it will be arranged for emergency repairs.
ARS
