The Water Development Board started to construct a dam in Kishoreganj’s haor (back swamp) area to prevent flooding. The plan was to construct a 200-km crop protection dam in the Itna, Mithamain and Astogram Upazilas of the district.
The Tk 4.3 billion project is being financed by Japan International Co-operation Agency, JICA. Though the work started two years ago, it did not end and the farmers, whose land was acquired, did not get paid either.
Reportedly, the project is in doldrums with farmers concerned if the Boro paddy can be harvested before the monsoon or not.
Plans included construction of 200 kms of dam, 20 sluice gates at a cost of Tk 500 million to save crops from flood, increase navigability of rivers, improve drainage, development of socio-economic conditions, poverty eradication and employment.
A farmer in Itna says, “This dam has gaps and will not prevent water, the dam is four to five feet, whereas the water comes at seven to eight feet.”
District administration office says, the embezzlement of millions by land acquisition official Setaful Islam in the name of paying farmers for their land, came to light last year.
The official was later arrested and prosecuted by the Anti- Corruption Commission and is now in prison.
Executive Engineer of Kishoreganj Water Development Board Shafiqul Islam, says, “Under this project, the construction of 32-km dam in three Upazilas of Itna, Mithamain and Ostogram at a cost of Tk 40 million is almost at the end.”
Reportedly, Tk 1.09 billion is submitted to the Kishoreganj deputy commissioner’s office for acquiring land.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Dular Chandra Sutradhor says, “We have completed all formalities to acquire land and will soon compensate the people whose land was taken.”
This year, four upazilas face risk of flooding since the construction of dam was not finished on time.
Kishoreganj Agriculture Extension Department Deputy Director Shafiqul Islam says, “We have an advanced warning about floods with work already underway in Itna, Mithamain and Oshtogram.”
There’s nothing much to do in case of massive flooding, but general floods will not be able to cause much damage, according to him.