Tk 17cr embankment collapses within month of construction
The massive embankment also caved in at six points following rains in last few days.
Collapse of the embankment within a month of its construction has appalled the local people. They entire embankment may collapse when the monsoon starts in full swing and the mighty river swells, many of them said while talking tot this correspondent yesterday.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The 4600-mete embankment was built at a cost of Tk 17 crore to protect Charghat and Bagha upazilas and Rajshahi town from erosion by the Padma. The work, divided into six groups was completed about a month back.
Many local people who witnessed the work during construction alleged that low quality construction materials were used in it. Parts of Rajshahi city and the two upazilas will be vulnerable as strong current of the river will wash away the embankment if there is flood. This is worrying them, they said.
Water Development Board (WDB) is now repairing the damaged dam on urgent basis, spending additional money, although there was condition in the agreement with contractors for its one-year maintenance after construction, sources said.
They claimed that the earth work was faulty and it was not reinforced before placing concrete blocks. The zeotex mattress was faulty, causing the damage within one month of its construction, they claimed.
The chief engineer and the superintendent engineer of WDB visited the spots.
"WDB is repairing the dam at its own cost", Superintendent Engineer Abdul Mannan said.
Asked why the concerned contractor was not bearing the repair cost, he suggested the correspondent to talk to the executive engineer.
Executive Engineer Habib Ullah said, "I can not talk on the matter as influential persons were involved ".
Zamat Khan, one of the WDB contractors who built the dam said, "It is an accident. Land can cave in due to torrential rain and I am repairing it fast".