Urgent measures needed to save haor region from flash floods

FARMERS in the haor region of Sylhet may have to count losses due to damages by flash floods right at the beginning of boro harvest. The vast lowlands in the regions are a major source of rice for the country, and the damages could affect the national food supply chain. The rice growers have already suffered a blow because of coronavirus restrictions. Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) on Friday said the northeastern region and many areas of India’s Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura states may witness moderate and heavy rains between April 17 and 24. Water levels in four of the local rivers may cross the danger level and cause flash floods in parts of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts. Till Sunday, only 10 per cent of the harvesting was done though farmers cultivated 474,195 hectares of land in the region this year.
The farmers have already been complaining of shortages of workers due to the travel restrictions and nationwide shutdown. Flash floods at this time of the year are not uncommon and damage to the crop becomes severe at times. In 2017, flash floods submerged hundreds of acres of paddy fields in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Netrokona, Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria and Moulvibazar, destroying and damaging the crop. It is forecasted that the intensity of heavy rainfall might increase in a day or two. Floods may harm the paddy in vast haor areas if the farmers fail to harvest them beforehand. The farmers will face severe problem if the flash flood washes out. Earlier, we had witnessed huge sufferings of haor people due to flood not only in rainy season but also in summer following water rush from upstream rivers of India. In most cases, the embankments were not properly built or maintained by Water Development Board Authority for which water flow submerged the villages.
It is Covid-19 emergency time, and if there is a flood at this moment in the haor region it will be impossible for them to overcome the miserable situation.