Sylhet Correspondent :
The Surma-Kushiara capital dredging project remains in limbo even after four years. Following the 2022 flood, efforts to dredge Sylhet’s main rivers, Surma and Kushiara, were anticipated but failed to commence, disappointing residents of the Sylhet region. According to various sources, the project has been delayed due to a lack of clearance from the Ministry of Finance.
According to Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) sources, the 5-year project plans to dredge 18 rivers concurrently.
The Surma River is scheduled to be excavated to a depth of 4.3 meters and widened to 90 meters as part of the initiative. The total estimated cost of the project is 1,675 crore taka. Experts attribute the inundation of various areas in the Sylhet district, including Sylhet city, during successive floods in the region since 2022, to the lack of dredging in the Surma-Kushiara rivers.
BIWTA Executive Engineer (PUR) in charge of the project ASM Mashrekul Arefin said, BIWTA has taken this project with the aim of capital dredging of 18 rivers including Surma-Kushiara, the main river of Sylhet region. In the first week of this month, the project was sent to the finance ministry for the no-objection letter. It will be sent to the Planning Commission soon after receiving the no-objection letter from the Finance Ministry.
ECNEC shall be raised and passed after the approval of the Planning Commission. Later BIWTA will start the project implementation activities.
He said that if the project is implemented, the navigability of the rivers in Sylhet region will be restored. The project is prepared after the expert team of BIWTA conducts field study.
While talking to journalists in Sylhet recently while visiting the flood affected areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj, State Minister for Water Resources Zahid Faruq said that a project for dredging small and big rivers in Sylhet region including Surma-Kushiara is awaiting the approval of the Ministry of Planning.
Dredging will start after getting the approval of the ministry. He said that initiatives have been taken to establish 9 dredging stations across the country to maintain the navigability of rivers.