About 100 meters of Rabindra Kuthibari protection dam built on Padma river in Kushtia has collapsed.
This is the second time the dam has been slumped down since its construction.
The 3.72 kilometer long dam names ‘Rabindra Kuthibari Conservation Dam Project’ was constructed in Shilaidaha in 2016. Its cost was Tk176 crore.
Sources said within two months of the completion, 150 meters of the dam in Kaloa area was washed away by the river in 2016. Later, the broken part was built.
According to the Water Development Board (WDB), this time crack on the dam in Komarkandi area was seen on March 1 and it got collapsed at the same night.
After inspecting at the area on Wednesday, it was seen that the part above the embankment has gone up to 100 meters along with the soil.
Locals say the soil in the area is softening and collapsing and such landslide has been found in many places.
Afshar Uddin, an executive engineer at WDB Kushtia office, said such incidents could happen if holes are developed in the top of the dam after the rains.
He said he is aware of the matter and has already been informed to Dhaka.
A team is supposed to was soon from Dhaka. However, he said there would be no problem if the repair reforms were carried out before the monsoon season.
Initiative to construct the dam was very important to protect the historic Kuthibari in Shilaidaha where great poet Rabindranath Tagore penned some of his most memorable poems, had been at risk from Padma River erosion. The government gave priority for construction of a concrete embankment to protect the property at the same time to protect homes, businesses and farmlands of around 21 villages under two unions of Kushtia’s Kumarkhali upazila.
Many hectares of farmland were lost to the river. Educational, government and private institutions, and religious sites were also heightened to the erosion risk.
Bangladesh-Army-associated Bangladesh Diesel Plant Limited carried out the work, with construction commencing in September 2016.