River Excavation Project: Strict Accountability Needed to Curb Malpractice

OURS is a riverine country. Rivers, streams and canals crisscross the entire nation like a vast network. For any agriculture-based economy, these water sources are vital lifelines.

The pledge to excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals across the country, as outlined in the BNP government’s election manifesto, is undoubtedly a transformative and timely initiative.

Canals play a crucial role in both ensuring irrigation facilities during the dry season and protecting crops by draining excess water during the monsoon.

The completion of approximately 1,200 kilometers of canal excavation over the past six months is undoubtedly praiseworthy.

Regrettably, however, this ambitious project-launched with noble intentions-has now become the subject of intense controversy due to the machinations of the local administration, public representatives, and vested political interests.

A project primarily aimed at generating employment for marginalized communities and bringing smiles to the faces of farmers has now transformed into a safe haven for the embezzlement of funds and wholesale plunder.

The information revealed in an investigative report by a national newspaper is deeply concerning.

Government policy explicitly mandates that at least 50 percent of the project work be carried out manually by labourers using spades and baskets to ensure rural poverty alleviation and employment generation.

However, the reality on the ground is entirely different. In most locations, heavy excavators-or ‘Veku’ machines-have been used to hastily excavate the soil instead of employing manual labour.

Unprecedented fraud has occurred-such as opening bank accounts for vulnerable women and obtaining their signatures on advance cheques to misappropriate crores of taka by exploiting their naivety.

Even more astonishing is the fact that funds were allocated on paper for canals that do not exist, while in other instances, bills for entire projects were collected after merely clearing a few weeds from the banks.

Naturally, the government must immediately take stern measures to put an end to this unprecedented mismanagement and malpractice.

To this end, digital mapping, drone surveys, and GIS mapping must be made mandatory for every project, thereby completely eliminating the scope for drawing payments based on fictitious locations and unrealistic measurements.

Furthermore, both departmental proceedings and criminal cases must be initiated against those involved in the fraud.

It is also crucial to ensure that workers receive their due wages directly through mobile banking.

At the same time, previous supervisory officials must be held accountable to verify if there was any negligence involved in the repeated dredging of the same canal.

It is expected that the government will adopt a zero-tolerance policy in this regard.