Patuakhali town, 40 shoals flooded: Demonstration for protection of dam
Md Sohrab Hossain, Patuakhali
Most areas of Patuakhali town and at least 40 shoals in Galachip and Dashmina coastal upazilas have been inundated due to pressure of floodwater from the upstream areas and high tide under the influence of full moon.The floodwater rolling from central areas of the country can not flow into the sea as the sea level is 4-5 feet higher than normal due to the full moon, according to sources in the Water Development Board. The water level in the district will start receding after full moon ends today, they said. Rains in different areas of the district since Tuesday aggravated the situation, administration sources in different upazilas said. They said many of the 40 affected shoals are under by 3-4 feet water now. These include Char Gonga, Char Halim, Char Gunmukha, Char Karforma, Char Bangla, Char Chalitabunia, Char Lata in Galachipa and Rangapahdi, Khalisha Khali and Alipur in Dashmina upazila. At least 35,000 people have been affected there. Water is stagnant in most areas of the town for the last several days. These areas go under water during flood or high tide as the town protection embankment-cum-drainage project taken up seven years ago is yet to be implemented. The townspeople led by Municipal Chairman Mostaq Ahmed and Ward Commissioner Mustafizur Rahman Rumi brought out a procession and held a rally in the town demanding implementation of the project. Addressing the rally in front of the Patuakhali Press Clud, the municipal chairman called upon the people to build up a movement for implementation of the town protection embankment. The town in surrounded by Patuakhali river on the north and by Kohalia river on the east. Waters from the rivers roll into the town during high tide. The Tk 17.27 crore project was taken up after the visit of the then agriculture minister Majid-ul-Haque to Patuakhali in 1997. It includes construction 7 4.20 km flood control embankment, sluice gates in 38 outlets, one km wall and installation of four power pumps. The Water Resources Ministry okayed the project in 2001 but it is awaiting approval by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC). WDB Executive Engineer Abdul Majid Mollah told this correspondent that at least 100 km flood control embankments have been damaged by the current flood.
| 
