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Most of Tk 229cr project work still not started

Implementation of Beel Dakatia Drainage Rehabilitation prog uncertain

From Our Correspondent
JESSORE. Feb 12: Implementation of Beel Dakatia Drainage Rehabilitation Project covering part of Jessore and Khulna districts became uncertain within stipulated date following delay to start work.
It is learnt that the official formalities even after two and half years of six-year long plan programme have been delayed.
The project was taken up at a cost of Taka 229 crore under ADB (Asian development Bank) fund in fiscal 1993-94.
It may be noted here that the project was designed to protect vast areas under two districts permanently against on rush of flash flood and water logging adversely affecting food production and rural economy, said sources. According to source, projects including" 105 KM long canal digging, constructing 17 KM long communication roads, ana repairing three and half KM long embankments as part of whole project, were taken up at a cost of Taka 25 crore during current fiscal. Delay in fulfilling pre-conditions by the authority, has made it Impossible to start
the work yet.
The sources said. Project Implementing Agency, WDB (Water Development Board) was not yet given possession of 51.72 hectares of land needed to start work by ac-quisitfon from district administration. despite placement of fund worth Taka one crore fifty lakh with Deputy Commissioners of Jessore and Khulna in last fiscal, as compensation to affected landowners.
It is reported, that official complications have halted the progress of the work for acquisition of land for the project. It is also reported that four-member advisory committee for the project still awaited formation due to delay to pick up one Agricultural specialist.
Reports also say that delay to form Water Management Association and problems caused by free use of drainage and canals after lease out. installing pipe by cutting polders and resisting loopcutting over the river Vadra at Chuk-nagore point, have hampered progress of the work to large extent.
It is alleged that recently
some NGOs, working in project area, are spreading dlsinformations among target groups in a bld to sabotage the project.
This problem is being marked in Jessore area .than Khulna. As such resistance Is being faced from local people while attempts are made for loopcutting to remove waterlogging. Another source said that two-thirds of the project area are still under waterlogging. Precisely, beel Pajia-Pa-tra of Keshabpur thana in the district is fully covered by waterlogging.
During visit to this area recently, good number of affected farmers told this correspondent that since implementation of total project would take long time as it appears from back drop of present situation. They proposed for setting a dozen of powerpumps in Pajia Patra beel area purely on temporary basis to remove the waterlogging thereby enabling them to grow 1RRI in current season.
Narrating this miseries, they accused local authority for theft negligence and carelessness to them.
A source on condition of
anonymity told that project work was not yet finalised. This was key reason for the project to delay to start work immediately, the source said.
It was also told that if the delay continued any further project cost had every chance to go up. New problems might arise to dig canals if shoals emerge in lower portion of these beels.
According to local people, a coordinated move Jointly by all concerned Including local administration is necessary for implementing the project on priority basis.
Incidentally vast areas under Monirampur, Kishorepur and part of Obhainagar thanas in Jessore and Dumuria. Ful-tala and part of Daulatpur thanas in Khulna go under flashflood and remain waterlogged for years causing heavy losses to agriculture, due to lack of measures to resist the disaster.
The proposal Beel Dakatia Drainage Rehabilitation is- an attempt to find out way to end the long-standing problem thereby bringing hew hope of life of millions of distressed farmers in the area.