There is hardly any let-up in saline water rendering the cyclone Alia-hit people of Koyara upazila in Khulna homeless, even after the reconstruction of the dam protecting the area. The influential people in the locality are deliberately cutting into some places of the dam to install pipes for irrigating saline water into their fields meant for Shrimp cultivation. The people of Koyra are again seized with apprehension that a slight crack to the dam would be tomorrow’s crisis and render them homeless once again. Farmers also can not grow crops for ultra-saline water. The dam came under a series of repeated reconstruction at a huge public expenditure.
Recently in one of the erosion stricken areas, Katkata, some local influential people were found cutting into dams in a broad day light, which was repaired by the government few days ago.
While visiting Padmapukur areas of Koyara upazila under 14/1 no. polder of Water Development Board (WDB) that repaired the damaged parts of the dam recently with the help of World Food Programme (WFP), this correspondent found at least 100 pipes installed in the embankment to bring in salty water from the nearby river.
On the other hand, the recently completed Pobna closer of Koyara can again be damaged adding to people’s woes, as shrimp cultivators have started cutting into dams.
At least 90 places of the recently repaired 13/14-2 no polder at Koyara, adjacent of Podna closer, have been dug for bringing in water to the lands for shrimp farming.
This correspondent also found several cracks in the dam adjacent to the areas where pipes have been installed.
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