The flood control dam in Saghata, Gaibandha, built to accommodate heavy vehicles, collapsed shortly after its renovation. The dam has caused extreme inconvenience to the locals in travelling from the High School area to Dakbangla Bazar via Battala. Residents of the area said that the flood control (WAPDA) dam in Saghata had collapsed in various places due to lack of renovation for a long time and was in a dilapidated condition.
Recently, the Water Development Board (Paubo) renovated the dam at a cost of several crores of taka. However, due to lack of proper care and maintenance, it is again taking on a dilapidated form as before. Due to the free movement of heavy tractors over the dam, it has now completely collapsed and filled with potholes. Now it has become unfit for pedestrians to move. Local resident Abdul Jalil complained, “After being neglected for a long time, the Water Development Board recently renovated this important flood control dam, but nothing has been done. We are left with suffering.”
Local residents said that due to the lack of any restrictions, heavy tractors carrying soil and sand are moving recklessly over the embankment. This is causing the embankment to collapse and collapse. The movement of pedestrians and small vehicles has been completely stopped due to deep potholes and mud caused by the movement of large-wheeled vehicles.
On the ground, it has been seen that several places of this dam from Battala to Dakbangla Bazar have already become extremely risky. Locals fear that a large part of the dam may collapse at any moment and flood a vast area during the ongoing monsoon or flood. Locals demand that the movement of heavy and illegal tractors over the dam should be stopped immediately and that the risky places should be repaired quickly and strict surveillance should be arranged to protect the dam. Otherwise, in addition to wasting this huge amount of government money, the common people of Saghata will face major disasters in the coming floods. Shariful Islam, Executive Engineer of Gaibandha Water Development Board, said that there is no budget for its maintenance during the ongoing monsoon. However, if there is a great need, it will be applied for in the budget.
