Farmers worried about haor protection dam cracks

After a long drought, Sylhet finally received several rains this week. Although the rains brought relief to public life, cracks and landslides have occurred in crop protection dams in various upazilas including Jagannathpur, Dharmapasha, Tahirpur, and other upazilas in the haor areas of Sylhet.

This has raised concerns among farmers in the haor areas.

A Water Development Board official said that some dams have been ‘rain cut’. However, the earthen dams will be compacted. They said that, of course, the PEC (Project Implementation Committee) has been asked to repair the cracks immediately.

The matter is under constant monitoring, said Kaisar Alam, the Water Development Board’s North Eastern Zone Acting Engineer.

Meanwhile, meteorologist Mustafa Kamal Palash told the media that there is a risk of heavy rain every day in Sylhet division until March 23. During this time, Sylhet and Sunamganj may receive 500 mm of rain. This may create a risk of early flooding in the haor area due to the hill slopes coming down from the upstream.

The Sylhet Meteorological Office said that 83.9 mm of rainfall was recorded from 6 am on Saturday to 9 am on Sunday. On the other hand, cracks and landslides have occurred in several crop protection embankments in Jagannathpur upazila of Sunamganj district due to two days of rain.

Locals said that despite the second extension of time to complete the work of project number 11 of Naluar Haor, the earthwork was not completed till Saturday. On the other hand, cracks and landslides have occurred in important embankments of project number 3 of Naluar Haor, project number 94 of Asharkandi Union and Jamaikata Haor located in Mirpur Union number 3.

Through the implementation committee of project number 36 of Jamaikata Haor. 8 lakh taka has been allocated for the construction of a 0.058 km long embankment and mouth closure work. Farmers have alleged that the dam collapsed after a light rain due to the construction of the Dam.