C T Online Desk: Huge irregularities have been allegedly took place in the project for protecting seven kilometer embankment of Jamuna river from erosion.
The project was initiated to protect homesteads and arable lands of the people by dumping sand-filled Geo bags in the area from Brahman village of Khukni union under Shahjadpur upazila in Sirajganj to Binotia of Gala union.
Sources said contractors in connivance with some unscrupulous officials of Sirajganj Water Development Board committed the irregularities.
According to the allegations, sufficient sands are not filled in Geo bags and the bags are not dumped at the right places.
Although the bags are dumped in the river bank, erosion is taking place within a few days, people alleged.
Villagers claimed massive erosion has started with the onset of rainy season in the west bank of Jamuna river. More than hundred houses, two mosques, crop lands, cow farms, spinning mills and more than two hundred trees have been inundated in the river.
The flood-affected villages are Brahman village, Arkandi, Ghatabari, Jalalpur, Pakurtala, Veka, Haatpachil, Sharif Mor, Mazzan, Fokir Para and Binotia. Protection dams on Jamuna river bank have collapsed in Mazzan, Fakirpara and Binotia. In addition, Jamuna embankments in Jogotola and Mazzan areas are under threat.
The villagers also said the unscrupulous officials are receiving bribe Tk 10 to Tk 20 thousand from people and dumping Geo bags near their houses on priority basis. Besides, they are placing the bags on the surface of the river bank instead of putting the bags into the basement of the collapsed areas. As a result, the erosion has occurred. Another reason of erosion is that they are using clay with sand in the Geo bags.
To get rig of the irregularities, the villagers are seeking intervention of the higher authorities Bangladesh Water Development Board.
