Landslides in Deran Haor before dam work is completed, crop fears

The construction of the Chaiya Kitta crop protection dam in Deran Haor in Shantiganj Upazila of Sunamganj is collapsing before it is completed. This has spread concern among farmers. Cracks have appeared at various places in the 1881-meter dam under construction under PIC Project No. 18. Landslides and cracks have occurred in several places in the past few days. Farmers fear that if urgent action is not taken, the boro crops of the entire haor may face serious damage.

Local farmers and project stakeholders said that a few years ago, during the monsoon season, sand was extracted from the Mahasingh River and the side of the dam in the Chaiya Kitti section using a dredger machine. As a result, a 27-foot deep hole was created on both sides of the Chaiya Kitta dam in the 2023 fiscal year, and landslides and cracks occurred in the dam during the construction of the dam. Later, cracks and collapses occurred in the same part of the dam again in the fiscal year 2024. In both years, the Water Development Board provided additional allocations to build a sustainable dam.

On the spot yesterday (January 31, 2020), it was seen that in the current 2025-2026 financial year, the dam has collapsed and cracks have formed in several places in the Chaiya Kitta section. Currently, due to the decrease in the river water, the soil in the Mahasingh River section of the dam has collapsed and crops have been damaged in several places.

Farmers say that if these problems were identified and measures were taken before the dam was built, this situation would not have arisen today. Due to the deep hole in the river and unplanned water drainage, new landslides occur in this dam every year. Now it is important to use tree stumps and geo bags to protect the dam. The Water Development Board must take immediate action.

Sunder Ali, General Secretary of PIC Committee No. 18, said that the work on the dam part of our part is in the final stage. About 80 percent of the work has been completed. In the final stage, multiple cracks and collapses have occurred in the Chaiya Kitta section and the dam. The damaged part of this dam was not part of our project. But now we have to work anew due to the collapse.

Dudu Mia, President of Project No. 18 He said, although we have 1841 meters of work under PIC No. 18, we have been given an additional 241 meters of work. Currently, cracks have appeared due to a deep hole in the river bank where the water of the Mahasingh River has receded. If urgent action is not taken, the crops of the entire haor will be at risk. Although I have informed the concerned authorities about these problems, no permanent solution has been found yet.

Farmers on the banks of the haor say that if the dam breaks due to landslides, then there is a risk of crop loss in the entire haor. Boro crop is the main source of income in this region, which if not properly protected, the farmers will face major losses. They have demanded the sustainable development of the dam and long-term planning at the earliest. The concerned said that due to unplanned removal of water from the haor, large holes have been created on the river bank, which has weakened the stability of the dam.

Deputy Assistant Engineer of the Water Development Board, Moniruzzaman said, I have inspected the cracked and collapsed part of the dam in the Chaiya Kitti section. My elevation The authorities have been informed. The extent of the damage will be assessed through the Srighee survey team and necessary measures will be taken.