Water level of rivers in Sunamganj are rising due to heavy rainfall in Meghalaya, India. As a result, the Nazar Khali dam in Taguar haor of Tahirpur upazila of the district is full and water is flowing over the danger level in the haor.
At around 11:30 am on Saturday, the dam of Haor broke and water was seen entering in crop fields. The farmers said that the water entering through this dam has damaged the Boro crops of Gaina Kori Haor, Erailla Haor, Sannasi Haor and Plillar Bill Haor of North Sreepur Union.
Meanwhile, the Water Development Board (WDB) said the dam was not a crop protection dam. This is a special allocation dam. Because it was given at the request of the villagers. It is specially allocated to repair the low or broken places like some places outside the project. This has also been discussed in the meeting.
It is learned that paddy has been cultivated in about 120 hectares of land in Tanguar Haor. In Tahirpur part 25 hectares of land has fallen. This dam has been extended for repairs and given under PIC No. 24. WDB has allocated nine lakh Tk for the project.
The question that has arisen in the minds of the people is whether the dam is broken after spending so much money, whether it is for crop protection dam or for water retention. Although it was not a crop protection dam, it was certainly given for profit. But the breakage of the dam has caused unknown panic among the farmers of other Haors. As a result, the higher the river water, the harder it will be to protect the paddy in the Haor.
Haor farmer Sajinur Mia said there was a lot of negligence in the dam work. After the demolition of this dam, the farmers are worried. He planted crops in land with many loans. This time, if paddy does not grow in the field, many farmers will die.
Another farmer, Abdul Awal, said the dam had collapsed due to irregularities, corruption and negligence. The golden dream of the farmer of Haor has become a nightmare due to the breaking of the dam. I am worried about whether I will be able to harvest rice in my barn.
Salehin Chowdhury Shuvo, executive director of the Haor Area Upliftment Society (HAUS), an organization working with the Haor, said the work of dam maintenance is the responsibility of the Upazila Administration and Water Development Board. But they have failed in this task and are trying to cover up the matter of breaking the dam. The dam work has been very poor so it is broken. We will go into the movement on this issue.
Bijan Sen Roy, general secretary of the central committee of Haor Bachao Andolan, said that there were various allegations of irregularities and corruption in the construction of the dam in Haor from the very beginning. We have already warned the committee. But no one listened to us. The administration has to take the responsibility of breaking the dam of Haor. Farmers' dreams are being shattered due to their negligence. The people of Haor are terrified. We will start movement in Sunamganj district.
Tahirpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Raihan Kabir said it was not basically a crop protection dam. I arrived at the scene. The water pressure of the river will decrease as water enters in this direction. Farmers in Taguar Haor have dared to plant crops on their own initiative. There will be only 25 hectares of land in Tahirpur part. So there is nothing to panic about. We are watching all the time. And this dam has been done mainly at the request of the villagers through special allocation. Basically it is not a crop protection dam.
Water Development Board Executive Engineer Shamsuddoha said the dam is outside the project. There were some broken parts in that place which have been repaired through special allocation. This dam is overflowing. It is not a crop protection dam. The Ramsar site of Taguar Haor has been declared not to be planted here. He said there is a ban.
Meanwhile, in 2016, one dam after another broke in Haor and the crop sank. This time it is going to be noticed at the beginning of the year. Haor movement leaders have complained of various irregularities, corruption and negligence in the construction of Haor Raksha Dam. If the Haor sinks this time, WDB and the administration will have to take responsibility like in the past, they said.