The local administration in Kaunia upazila of Rangpur district has returned Tk 99.25 lakh to the government treasury as a canal re-excavation project in the upaizla could not be completed within the stipulated time due to heavy rainfall and adverse weather.
Kaunia Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Papia Sultana deposited Tk 99,25,337 back into the government treasury after settling all expenses related to excavation, workers’ wages, tree plantation, transportation and other project activities.
According to the upazila administration, a project was taken up to re-excavate around 8.5 kilometres of canals to improve drainage, boost agricultural production and reduce waterlogging during the monsoon.
Under the project, 4.7 kilometres of the Singamari Dola canal in Kursha Union and 3.7 kilometres of the Dhumnadi canal in Haragach Union were scheduled to be re-excavated.
Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ruhul Amin inaugurated the project on May 12. The work was scheduled to be completed by June 30.
However, only 75 percent of the work on the Dhumnadi canal and 41.91 percent on the Singamari Dola canal could be completed within the deadline due to excessive rainfall and limited time.
Local farmers have expressed disappointment over the incomplete work, saying full excavation of the long-silted canals would have reduced waterlogging during the rainy season and improved irrigation facilities during the dry season, benefiting agricultural production.
Karim Mia, a farmer from the Singamari area of Kursha Union, said he hoped the canal excavation would bring relief to farmers and protect crops from flooding.
“But the work was not completed and the money was returned. No one seems to care about our suffering,” he said.
Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Mezbahur Rahman said government funds were public money and had to be handled transparently.
“As the work could not be completed within the stipulated period, the unspent Tk 99,25,337 was deposited in the government treasury,” he said.
UNO Papia Sultana said the project could not be completed on time because of excessive rainfall.
Therefore, the remaining funds were returned to the government treasury in accordance with the rules, she said.
She added that the remaining sections of the canals could be excavated during the dry season of the next fiscal year if the ministry provides instructions and fresh allocation.