Shelter project at risk before inauguration: Not handed over even after a year, houses cracked and bank collapse

The houses of the government shelter project built in the Mahishkur area of ​​Sriula Union in Ashashuni Upazila of Satkhira have not been handed over to the beneficiaries even after almost a year of completion. In the meantime, bank collapses around the houses and cracks appear in the buildings, raising concerns among the locals about the project's stability and safety.

It was seen on the spot that there are fish ponds on both sides of the houses built in rows. Large cracks have been created due to soil collapse in the front and back of the houses. Some parts of the palisade installed to protect the bank have already tilted. As a result, the erosion is gradually approaching the houses, causing panic among the locals.

According to the Upazila Project Implementation Officer's office, a total of 18 houses have been constructed on about 55 percent of land for landless and homeless families. The cost of each house has been estimated at 2 lakh 59 thousand 500 taka. Accordingly, the entire project has cost about 46 lakh 71 thousand taka. However, even after almost a year of completion of the construction work, the houses have not been handed over to the beneficiaries.

Local social worker Sheikh Habibur Rahman said that it is very disappointing that this shelter project, built at a cost of about half a crore taka, is at risk before its inauguration. The nature of the land and the impact of the surrounding fish enclosure should have been properly taken into consideration during the implementation of the project. He also commented that such a situation has arisen due to the houses lying unused for a long time and lack of proper supervision. At the same time, he demanded that the matter be investigated and those responsible be held accountable and the houses be quickly repaired and handed over to the landless.

In this regard, Upazila Project Implementation Officer of Ashashuni Upazila Md. Amirul Islam said that there are fish enclosures on both sides of the shelter project. Since there was water in the enclosure until now, the palisading was in order. Recently, the palisading has become tilted due to the lowering of the water level in the enclosure through irrigation. The matter has already been inspected and reported to the higher authorities. He further said that if the water level rises again in the enclosure, necessary repairs will be done. However, he mentioned that the responsibility of handing over the houses lies primarily with the land office.

Meanwhile, local residents fear that the level of erosion may increase further if the water pressure increases during the monsoon season. Therefore, the locals have demanded that effective erosion prevention measures be taken quickly to protect the houses of the shelter project.