ZCZC
BSS-13
FLOOD-NORMALCY-BRAHMAPUTRA (with picture)
Normalcy returning as flood situation improves further in B’putra basin
RANGPUR, Aug 9, 2020 (BSS) – Normalcy starts returning to flood affected areas as most of the displaced people already returned homes following further improvement of flood situation during the past 24 hours till 9 am today in the Brahmaputra basin.
The major rivers and tributaries were flowing much below the danger mark (DM) at all points today following further recession in their water levels, Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said.
Officials in the district administrations said distribution of rice, cash money, baby foods and animal fodders allocated by the government continues among flood- and erosion- hit families in full swing in affected areas of eight northern districts.
There is no flood in Nilphamari, Rangpur and Lalmonirhat now and the situation continues improving fast in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura and Sirajganj in the basin where complete normalcy will return by the next few days.
Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said the flood situation continues improving rapidly causing incidents of sporadic riverbank erosion at vulnerable points with unstable and sandy soil textures alongside major rivers.
“The BWDB continues riverbank protection works at over 50 points vulnerable points and has already completed the works at many vulnerable points across the zone,” he said.
Executive Engineer Mokhlesur Rahman for the Gaibandha Division of BWDB said riverbank protection works are continuing at some 15 vulnerable points alongside major rivers in the district.
Executive Engineer of BWDB for its Kurigram Division Ariful Islam informed that normalcy started returning with recession of floodwaters and riverbank protection works are continuing at 35 vulnerable points in the district.
Following further sharp falls in their water levels, the Brahmaputra was flowing below the DM by 135cm at Noonkhawa and 87cm at Chilmari while Dharla by 105cm at Kurigram and Ghaghot by 50cm at Gaibandha points at 9 am today.
The Jamuna was flowing below the DM by 72cm at Fulchhari, 68cm at Bahadurabad, 40cm at Sariakandi, 43cm at Kazipur and 25cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am.
The Teesta was flowing below the DM by 95cm at Dalia in Nilphamari and 55cm at Kawnia in Rangpur while Kartoa was flowing below the DM by 114cm at Chak Rahimpur points at 9 am today.
Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) for Rangpur region Agriculturist Muhammad Ali said the floods in two phases have damaged standing crops on 14,784 hectares of land in all five districts of Rangpur agriculture region.
“The floods have caused production losses of 46,658 tonnes of crops worth Taka 174.28 crore affecting 1,72,239 farmers in the deluge-affected areas of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts in the region,” he said. The government through the DAE and other agriculture related organisations has taken massive post-flood agri-rehabilitation programmes to assist flood-affected farmers in recouping crop losses in the region.
“The DAE has prepared community Aman rice seedbeds on 221 acres of land at the union and ward levels in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari in flood-hit areas,” Ali said.
The produced Aman rice seedlings will be distributed soon among flood-affected farmers at the community levels free of costs for re-transplantation on their affected croplands.
“Besides, Aman rice seeds will be distributed among flood-hit farmers for broadcasting on their affected croplands,” Ali said, adding that affected farmers will also cultivate late ‘Ganjia’ varieties of Aman rice, early vegetables, ‘mash kalai’ and other crops.
BSS/ASG/MI/MR/MMA/1355HRS