AK Hiru, Khulna
The cross dams (dykes) damaged due to tidal upsurge caused by cyclone Amphan at different areas under Koira upazila in Khulna are still unrepaired.
Cyclone Amphan wrecked havoc on cross dams at Ratnagheri, of Kathkata, Hajatkhali, Gazipara of Uttar Bedkashi, Harinkhola and Ghatakhali areas of the upazila.
Due to entrance of saline water through the broken, damaged parts of those dams, human habitations, fishing-ghers (enclosures), ponds, cropland and vegetable fields, roads and alleys have been damaged badly. Sufferings of thousands of people knew no bounds due to the adverse impact of flooding of several-kilometre long areas with saline water.
Upazila Administration sources informed, due to the impact of tidal surge created by the cyclone Amphan, some 17 kilometre of the cross dams of poulders 13/14-1 and 13-14-2 under Water Development Board of Koyra Sadar, Maharajpur, Uttar Bedkashi and Dakshin Bedkashi have been completely damaged demolishing some 19,000 houses and over flooding fishing-ghers ( enclosures) of some 4,500 hectares of water-bodies, damaging standing crops and vegetables of 552 hectares of land incurring a total loss over Taka 50 crore.
Moreover, 21 kilometre of cross dams have been damaged partially and 30 kilometre long roads (including metalled roads) have also been badly damaged by the surging saline water of Amphan, informed Jafar Rana, Project Implementation Officer of the upazila.
It is learnt, thousands of people under the supervision of local Member of Parliament, Upazila Chairmen, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, UP Chairmen and local public representatives were seen to participate into the works of repairing of the damaged-cross dams or dykes of No.2 Koyra under Koyra Sadar union, Ghatakhali, Harinkhola, Hajatkhali, Gazipara, Ratnagheri for last four to five days.
Aftab Uddin, a resident of Ghatakhali village informed, five of his surrounding villages have been badly damaged by flooding and breaching of cross dams. Many houses people living near the cross dams have been washed away in the river.
Abu Musa of No-2 Koyra village informed, houses, road, crop fields and everything went under water due to breaching of the dams. The villagers have no room to take shelter now. People of the areas now demand to repair the cross dams in an emergency basis.
Geeta Rani Sarker of Uttar Bedkashi village under Kashirhat-Gazipara areas in an emotion choked voice said, 50 bighas of land including 15-bigha of her fishing enclosures of the village have been washed away inside the Kobadak river by breaching Gazipara cross dam. Their houses have been plunged in saline water and now they were panicked of losing their last shelter.
Sonaton Sarker, a local resident informed, homesteads of some 20 people including Bonoy Mondal, Paresh Mondal, Kartik Mondal, Paritosh Mondail, Haren Mondal, Gunadhar Mondal, Jagadish Mondal, Parimal Borkandaj, Amal Borkanndaj, Sunil Borkandaj and Sadhan Mondal have been washed away in the river by breaking the Hajtkhali cross dam.
Local Member of Parliament Alhaj Akhteruzzman Babu informed the government has taken up all measures including supervision by the armed forces to repair the cross dams of WDB damaged by cyclone Amphan at Koyra.