Minister for taking lessons as floods devastate haor regions
Dhaka: Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud on Sunday said now there is nothing to do but to take lessons from the unusual floods that hit haor areas hard.
The minister came up with the remarks at Bangladesh Secretariat while briefing reporters over the recent flashflood in the haor areas, including Sunamganj and Moulvibazar.
Anisul said the height of dams of those areas is 6.5 meters while flood water rolled over 8.5 meters. Sometimes strong dam cannot absorb such water pressure, he said.
"We need to take lessons from what is happening, we will have to review the whole matter. We'll have to examine certain matters -- whether we we'll raise the height of the embankments or change the variety of rice grown in such areas as harvesting of BR-29 takes a longer time," Anisul Islam added.
Responding to a query on corruption in implementation of various projects of the Water Development Board in the haor areas, the minister said they are trying to find out the problems.
"Stern action will be taken if allegations are found to be true," said Anisul.
The minister said 812 points have already been identified in Sunamganj-Sylhet areas to repair dams. Among those, farmers themselves opened dams at 520 points to facilitate movement of their paddy-laden boats, he said.
Besides, the minister blamed climate change for the flashflood in the haor areas.