BHOLA, Sept 18: Development works worth Taka 551 crore to check Meghna River erosion in Daulatkhan and Borhanuddin upazilas of the district is going on.
Under its Folder 56/57 Protection Project, the Water Development Board (WDB) is protecting about 9.5 kilometres across the riverbank from erosion. The work started through dumping blocks and geo bags in November of 2016 which will end in June of 2019.
Already, 51 per cent works have been completed. As a result, several areas were saved from flooding during this rainy season. Besides, two more projects worth Taka 1,100 crore to check river erosion are waiting for approval.
Lawmaker of Bhola-2 constituency Ali Azam Mukul said the river erosion was the main problem of the local people, but they have got relief of the problem during the Awami League government. The people are feeling secure as visible river training work is going on.
WDB sources said under the riverbank protection work, a total of 50,26,932 CC blocks and 14,54,672 geo bags will be dumped in the two upazilas. So far, 27,33,576 CC blocks and 5,52,263 geo bags have been dumped.
The work will start from Machh Bazaar area of Daulatkhan Upazila and will cover Bhabanipur, Syedpur, Mainka and Batamara to Pakkhia of Borhanuddin Upazila. After the project is completed, various establishments worth about Taka 2,000 crore will be saved from erosion.
Executive Engineer of WDB Babul Akhter said, "The work of all 22 packages of the project is going on. Generally, CC blocks are dumped after placing geo bags. Though there was a target to finish 46 per cent work of the project in last fiscal, at least 51 per cent was completed. So, we hope to finish the project before scheduled time."
He also said, about 2,000 people have got jobs in the project. Besides, more than lakh people of Bhabanipur, Syedpur, Pakkhia and Mainka areas are enjoying the benefits of the work in this rainy season.
