The recent flash floods in Sunamganj district damaged crops on nearly 5,000 hectares of land, said State Minister for Water Resources Zahid Faruk on Monday.
Talking to reporters at the Secretariat he blamed early rainfall in the first week of this month for the sudden floods.
From April 1 to April 6 the local met office recorded 1209 mm rainfall, he said.
The government, he said, has taken preparation to help farmers cope with the floods, he said.
Asked about alleged delays in repairing the breached dams Faruk said the work could not be completed due to stagnant water, reports UNB.
“We started repair work in December and finished it in February. Up to 90 per cent work has been done,” he said.
Already a six-member committee, headed by an additional secretary, has been formed to investigate the allegation, he said adding, it will submit the report within ten days.
The state minister said the government has taken projects worth Tk 4.94 billion. Another project of river dredging worth Tk 15.47 billion is underway in the district.
“If the projects are approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) then we can start work in November. We have identified the problems and we hope there will be no problem next year,” he said.
AKM Enamul Haque Shamim, deputy water resources minister, who was present at the press briefing, said action will be taken against those found involved in corruption in haor areas.
Flash floods triggered by onrush of water from the upstream inundated Boro crops on 5,000 hectares of land in 14 haors in Sunamganj, causing loss of Tk 1.0 billion, according to local agriculture office.
According to local DAE office, Boro paddy has been cultivated on 0.22 million hectares of land in the district this year and the production target has been set at 1.35 million tonnes.