‘Loot’ in Kuakata embankment project

Accusations of massive irregularities and ‘looting’ in a project of Water Development Board in Kauakata have surfaced.

Residents there claimed the contractor firm, Starlight Services Limited, was using substandard materials in the CC block-making project, designed to protect the Kuakata flood control embankment.

They said their protest against the irregularities had gone unheeded and even they were harassed in many ways for the agitation.

The locals alleged the work on the Tk 132.5-million project was suspended for a while amid protests but resumed again.

Local youths Md Russell Mia, Shahidul Islam and Golam Mostafa and business leader Md Motaleb Sharif said the contractor was using substandard materials in the project.

They said Starlight Services staff had threatened that they would file extortion case against those protesting against the irregularities.

Kuakata Hotel-Motel Owners Association General Secretary Md Motaleb Sharif told bdnews24.com that the CC blocks made by the contractor were breaking under hand pressure.

He said the embankment could not be saved from erosion with such low-standard blocks.

Asked about the irregularities, Kalaparha Water Development Board Executive Engineer Md Sofiuddin told bdnews24.com: “World Bank’s own official monitors (the project) and our officials also remain with them.”

Still the contractor resorted to irregularities, he said.

Starlight representative Kishore Kumar Dey denied the allegations.

He said a few blocks might break during handling, “but the work is going on in accordance with rules.”

Sofiuddin said the contractor was supposed to complete the project by July 12, 2013.

Later, the deadline was extended by three more months but the firm missed that too.

However, Sofiuddin said the work was almost complete.

The World Bank and the Netherlands Tourist Fund financed the project.