Take prompt initiatives to protect low-lying areas from flash flood

Like previous years, country’s farmers of the low-lying areas, especially of haor regions, may have to count losses this year too due to damages by flash floods in the upcoming rainy season. The vast lowlands are a major source of rice and other vegetables for feeding the nation. If that happens, 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 has recently said the northeastern region and many areas of India’s Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura states may witness moderate and heavy rains. Following its impact, the 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. Still, harvesting has not completely done in many areas though farmers cultivated thousands of hectares of land only in the Sylhet region this year.
Not only that the districts of coastal belts also often face such problem due to breaching of the embankments. So, flash floods at this time of the year are not uncommon. And damage to the crop is also a regular phenomenon. In 2017, flash floods submerged hundreds of acres of paddy fields in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Netrokona, Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria and Moulvibazar, damaging the crop worth millions of taka. We witness huge sufferings of lowland area people due to flood not only in rainy season but also in summer every year following water rush from upstream rivers of India. In most cases, the embankments are not properly built or maintained by Water Development Board Authority for which water flow submerged the villages. But this time they should not be so careless. All embankments must be repaired as soon as possible.  
We’re now facing a national health emergency due to Covid-19 pandemic. So, a flood at this moment in any low-lying area would obviously create a miserable situation. The ministry concerned must take urgent initiatives to prevent it.