Bhola, July 31 (BDNEWS) – Massive irregularities have been alleged in the renovation works of the Bhola Town Protection Embankment.
Water Development Board (WDB) has appointed 10 contractors on emergency basis to protect the embankment as it has developed breaches at 33 points along its 40 km stretch.
It was alleged that contractors appointed by the WDB are not working properly due to their political affiliations and influences.
Sources said, contractors are not complying with the rules of contract. They are supposed to use synthetic bags on slopes of the embankment having 175 kg of soil wrapped up in GO textile cloths.
Local people of the area complained, bags are being placed on slopes in substandard sacks of salt and fertilizer containing merely 20-30 kg of soil without any GO textile cloths.
People from Dhania Tulatali embankment area under Bhola Sadar upazila said, as the water resources minister on Friday went to visit the renovation works of the embankment contractors had brought GO textile cloth only to show him.
After his departure they were not seen using those cloths, they alleged.
During an on-the-spot visit to the area over 100 labourers told journalists renovation work began as the minister was supposed to come, but with his departure it came to a halt.
Locals alleged, a section of dishonest officials and greedy contractors are responsible for sufferings of thousands of people in the locality.
A source wishing to be anonymous said, local influential leaders interfered in the appointment of 10 contractors on emergency basis before June 30. Due to intra-party conflict renovation work of embankment has delayed by at least one month.
An on-the-spot visit reveals, bags are being filled with the soil of old embankment to resist the collapse of the fresh embankment.
Locals opined that if the old embankment remained as usual the fresh one would be safe due to the waves lashing on to the shore would hit the old one first thus protecting it (fresh one) from being damaged rapidly.
As the old one had been cut off the fresh embankment is gradually making its way for collapse.
Bhola WDB engineer, meantime, told BDNEWS that work is progressing on regular basis to resist the tide of full moon. There is no scope for irregularities, he stressed.
BDNEWS/1055 hrs
