The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Devastating hurricane Sidr damaged embankment in coastal areas causing destructions worth Tk.700 crore.

The assessment report sent by local officials of Water Development Board to Water Resources Ministry said that 300 kilometers long embankment destroyed and 2000 kilometers long embankment have been damaged by hurricane Sidr in coastal belt.

This assessment included 166 kilometers and 311 establishment destroyed and 1300 kilometers and 411 establishments related with embankments damaged embankments and in Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola, Jhalakati and Pirojpur districts.

Besides 75 kilometers irrigation canals and 14 kilometers branch canals also damaged by Sidr in this region.

Water Development Board sources said the then Pakistan Government took a project with financial assistances from United States of America government to construct embankment locally known as Bhery Bandh in coastal region at the cost of 38.60 core Taka in 1960-61.

The project was named as 'coastal flood control dam' and ended in 1979-80 fiscal after constructing about one thousand kilometers long embankments, 177 drainage sluice, 320 flopping sluice, and 272 river closer establishments in coastal region.

By implementing this project 6 lakhs acres of land in coastal areas were saved from tidal bore, flood and salinity and came under irrigation schemes in coastal belts.

After success of that project Water Development Board constructed more hundreds of kilometers of embankments in different regions of coastal districts. District offices with executive and sub divisional engineers were opened under Barisal, Bhola, and Chittagong and Khulna Circles of WDB for maintenances and supervision of these embankments.

One source of WDB said Maj.Gn. Dr. A S M Matiur Rahman, advisor for water resources ministry, after visiting the Sidr affected areas directed official to prepare report about the destruction and damages of embankments caused by hurricane Sidr and accordingly the primary report was prepared and sent hurriedly.