SYLHET, Feb 16: Punitive actions has been taken against at least 52 Project Implementation Committees (PICs) officials in Sunamganj district for negligence, violation of rules and flawed works on the crop protection schemes during the last two weeks, an official informed.
An official said it would continue. The PICs men include four accused of ACC-filed cases and a convict in a criminal case.
They are Bahsir Ahmed, Abul Mia, Shithil Chandra Das, Subrata Sarker and Saju Mia, all presidents of PICs. Prior to that, five presidents of PICs in Derai upazila were dropped as they had been identified as accused in ACC-filed cases of last year for irregularities in crop protection works, the official added. They are Prodip Bhowmik, Lal Mia, Mizanur Rahman, Md. Mohan Mia and Ziaur Rahman.
On the other hand eight PIC presidents Mubir Mia, Md. Abdul Bayes, Badrul Amin, Shamsul Haque, Nurey Alam, Sirajul Haque, Abdur Rashid and Alek Mia had been issued with show cause notices for negligence in the works on their respective crop protection schemes in the same upazila.
In Dharmapasha upazila PIC presidents Jibon Krishna Talukder, Shiru Mia, Rupom Mia, Bidyut Sarker, Bablu Talukder, Chitta Ranjan Bhuiyan and Kamal Mia had been issued with show cause notices.
Same way 10 presidents in Tahirpur and 7 PIC presidents in Jogonnathpur upazila were issued with show cause notices.
Deputy Commissioner and president of the district committee for overseeing the crop protection embankments Md. Abdul Ahad said in line with government decision, we would continue taking actions for the flawed works and negligence.
Minister for planning MA Mannan, also lawmaker from Sunamganj-3 told the newsmen in Sunamganj yesterday the government had sanctioned required money for the crop protection schemes in this low-lying region. None would be spared for any irregularity in the schemes for saving the Boro paddy, he added.
In total 556 schemes had been selected for execution with a target to saving the Boro paddy in 11 upazilas under Sunamganj with a total cost of Tk 97 million for reconstruction and reshaping works on a total of 440 km embankment (not dam), informed the Executive Engineer.
Highest Tk 1.51 billion was spent for a total 954 schemes on a total of 1347 km embankments in Sunamganj last year.
With the target to saving Boro crops ever year, the WDB has to work on the crop protection embankments inside 37 major haors and outside in the district before the rainy season.
After large scale irregularities in the crop protection works in 2017, the region suffered devastating floods by excess and early rains. Then the government had to take up the highest number of schemes last year.
