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May
31, 2000
Noakhali,
May 30 (UNB) – Noakhali Irrigation Project, an ambitious scheme
undertaken in 1975 raising hope among farmers of the region, could not
be implemented in 25 years.
Official
sources said the project, comprising 11 upazilas in Chandpur, Comilla,
Noakhali and Laxmipur districts, has virtually been abandoned due to
its overestimation.
The
project, involving Tk 104.36 crore, was taken up to control flood and
provide irrigation facility to 68,487 hectares of cropland.
The
project area covered Shahrasti (partially), Hajiganj, Faridganj
(partially) upazilas in Chandpur, Laksham (partially) in Comilla,
Sudharam, Begumganj, Chatkhil and Senbagh in Noakhali and Ramganj,
Ramgati and Sadar upazilas in Laxmipur districts.
The
officials said a departmental office, constructed at Dalalbazar in
Laxmipur district to implement the five-year project, is now lying
unattended.
As
per the project profile, a final report was also placed in 1993 after
conducting feasibility studies and necessary surveys.
They
said crops worth about Tk 1,000 crore could be saved on the lands each
year from recurring floods by implementing the project.
Crops
on vast tracts of land and huge thatched houses in the region are
damaged by flood every year, causing colossal loss to the farmers.
According
to an estimate, crops and property worth of Tk 2,200 crore were
damaged by the 1998 prolonged flood alone.
Crop
intensity will rise by 184 percent while fish cultivation by 21.03
percent if 75,000 hectares of land under the project area could be
brought under irrigation facility, the officials said.
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