Monday | 13 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Monday | 13 January 2025 | Epaper

Massive irregularities found in re-excavating Mundail Canal

Published : Wednesday, 5 July, 2017 at 12:00 AM  Count : 105
MR Alam

MEHERPUR, Jul 4: Massive irregularities surfaced in re-excavation of Mundail Canal in Gangni upazila of the district.
Locals alleged that there are irregularities in preparing the list of depreciated families and their compensation. The victims demanded bringing to book the persons who are involved in the corruption.
It has been learnt that the Water Management Cooperative Society (WMCS) under the supervision of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) started re-excavation of Mundail Canal under Gangni upazila in the fiscal 2016-17 for water drainage, preservation, fish cultivation, irrigation facilities etc.
The estimated cost was 42 lakh 10 thousand and 956 taka for re-excavation of 5.6 km long canal, and the work was duly financed by an international organisation. After some days of digging, the re-excavation work was closed but the implementing authority WMCS managed to withdraw 42 per cent money from the project.
The locals also alleged that apparently no work was done after stopping the re-excavation work. But the LGED claimed that the work has been completed according to the fixed design.
There are massive allegations in preparing the list of the depreciated families who live on the bank of the canal. During the time of launching the work, many trees and other valuables were damaged and in the first phase, the project manager prepared a list of 200 depreciated families.
After that the LGED authority excluded 60 families from the list after vetting. Later, an NGO Christian Commission Development of Bangladesh (CCDB) which was duly appointed by the original organisation of Netherlands again prepared the list of the depreciated families along with the members of WMCS. They prepared the list of only 30 depreciated families and allocated 5 lakh 35 thousand and 184 taka as compensation.
Preparation of the list for three times proved that there were massive irregularities in the whole work, locals opined. Apart from this, half portion of the total allocated money for compensation was not given to the depreciated families, too.
Depreciated Bulbul Ahmed of Jugirgofa village under Gangni upazila said, "Some mango, jackfruit, blackberry and medicinal trees including some lands were damaged during the time of the work. I was sanctioned Tk 65 thousand as compensation but the project chairman Hedayet Ali Biswas alias Albert Biswas of the village gave me Tk 32 thousand only."
Abdul Karim of the same village got 7,000 taka against his allotted Tk 14,000 and Abdus Sattar got half portion from his allotted Tk 41,285.
They were informed by Albert Biswas that the half portion of the money has been spent for travelling to and from Dhaka for the project purpose and the bribe for the officers involved in this work. They put their signature on the master roll for full money though they were allegedly given half.  
Kibria of the village said, "The initiative was taken by the government for the welfare of the people but it was not done properly. After cutting a little quantum of earth amid massive irregularities, we submitted our documents properly. But, the depreciated people were not given their compensation properly. Two men of Hatubhanga village under Alamdanga upazila of neighbouring Chuadanga district were enrolled as depreciated families and got compensation. It was good enough to understand that how the WMCS members embezzled the money."  
WMCS President Albert Biswas said, "Most of the offices are plunged into corruption. Without bribe no work is done. That is why I requested the area manager of the NGO who came from Dhaka to avoid the complexities. The area manager said that it is foreign fund and the depreciated families will get it; so there is no need to close the project."
Executive Engineer of LGED Azimuddin Sardar said, the re-excavation work was completed properly abiding by the rules and regulations and the depreciated people were given cheque; so the matter of less payment is not true.
It may be mentioned here that after wide circulation of massive corruption for the work of Mundail Canal, the LGED authority held up the payment. Later, the implementation committee submitted bill to the LGED after clearing some jungle trees and plants from the both sides of the canal instead of re-excavation and is trying to release the bill payment anyhow.
People of the area demanded proper investigation into the matter before making final payment.






LATEST NEWS
MOST READ
Also read
Inaugurating family planning and service week
Devotees offering munajat
Regional Ijtema ends in Bogra
Hemp recovered from pickup-van in Habiganj
32 jailed in Habiganj murder case
Four killed in road mishaps in 4 dists
Poor children collect paddy from rat holes with risk
AL candidates sweep Comilla UP polls
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: district@dailyobserverbd.com, news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
🔝
close