SYLHET: Almost 30 per cent construction work of haor crop protection embankments in Sylhet remained incomplete till Saturday, two days before the February 28 deadline.
Farmers of different parts in the division alleged that apart from various irregularities, construction work of maximum 70 per cent of the haor crop protection dams has so far been completed.
They now fear that flash flood may damage their Boro crops due to poor progress in the repair and construction work of the dams.
According to them, the work will not complete even after February 28, the government-set deadline although there is a weather forecast of early rain and flash floods this year.
An official of the Water Development Board (WDB) admitted that the progress of the work is around 70 per cent.
"Late release of funds has already caused some delay in the work. What we now need is quick release of the fund," he added.
Contacted, WDB Chief Engineer (North-East region, Sylhet) SM Shahidul Islam also recognised delay in starting the work for union parishad elections and other reasons.
"About 799 projects have been started with a budget of Tk 7.30 billion (730.03 crore) in the Sylhet division," he said.
However, the field survey showed that these projects are being implemented along 679-kilometre embankments, which would require Tk 12.85 million (128.58 lakh) in total," he added.
The Ministry of Water Resources had earlier instructed the authorities to complete the repair and construction work of haor crop protection embankments by February 28 this year.
Many of the farmers alleged that the formation of Project Implementation Committee (PIC) had been delayed at the beginning of the season, which resulted in the overall delay.
Anwar Hossain, a local of Shantiganj upazila, said, "We want transparency in PIC formation and other works as well as timely execution of the projects."
