Safe homes ‘fail to ensure safety’ of Aila victims
Reported by: Mahmud Hossain, UNB Correspondent
Reported on: July 17, 2012 12:44 PM
Reported in: National
Reported on: July 17, 2012 12:44 PM
Reported in: National
Pirojpur, July 17 (UNB) – Hit hard by devastating cyclone Aila three years ago, thousands of victims in seven upazilas of the district are still reeling under its far-reaching consequences.
On the night of May 25, 2009, Aila struck 14 coastal districts of the country, leaving a trail of destruction killing 150 and affecting some 30 lakh people.
A visit by the UNB correspondent to the Aila-hit areas of the district shows that the affected people who lost their hearths and homes to the natural disaster are still passing their days in miseries as 400 safe homes built for them have not been what that meant for.
The safe homes, called ‘Sahaniya Griha’ (cyclone proof house), have been built at different villages in Zianagar, Mathbaria, Kawkhali, Bhandaria, Nazirpur, Swarupkathi and Sadar upazilas.
The safe homes – each 15’x10’ -- are said to be vulnerable as their roofs stand over four columns with no wall in between the columns.
According to engineers, living in those houses is not safe as those cannot withstand strong wind and tidal surge in case of any powerful cyclone.
Officials at the local office of Relief and Disaster Management Department said the houses were built in 2010-2011 at a cost of Tk 5 crore from Climate Trust Fund.
Mashiur Rahman, chairman of Balipara union parishad (UP) of Zianagar, said the houses remain virtually unoccupied as people find it risky to live there.
Contacted, the relief officer of Pirojpur informed that 100 Sahaniya Grihas have been built in Mathbaria, the largest upazila of the district, while six other upazilas have 50 houses each.
Zianagar’s Balipara UP chair Mashiur Rahman said the Environment Ministry built these houses, aiming to protect their inmates from cyclone but the houses are hardly used as people think those vulnerable.
“As Bangladesh is regularly hit by cyclone, the cyclone shelters and dwelling houses built in cyclone-prone coastal districts should have been much stronger,” he observed.
Habibur Rahman, a farmer affected by Aila in 2009 said: “The houses built by the Environment Ministry for the cyclone victims aren’t worth living.”
Habib and Kabir Hossain of neighbouring Parerhat union said most of the empty houses have virtually turned into cowsheds. “People don’t live there in fear of being washed away by cyclone. Instead, they keep their cattle there,” they said.
“As the houses have no fence around them it is embarrassing for people to live there with family members,” another affected farmer of Zianagar told this correspondent.
“A few affected people are trying to make the houses livable by setting up polythene-made enclosures around the houses but wind and rain blow them away,” villagers of Nesarabad (Swarupkathi) said.
When contacted, Zahirul Haque, director general of Relief and Rehabilitation Department, said a total of 1,453 Sahaniya Grihas have been built in 22 upazilas of six districts of Barisal division spending Tk 1.20 lakh each.
Quoting the deputy commissioner of the district, he said: “The houses have been built as per government order. Since we’re employees of the state, we’re supposed to carry out the duty of the state.”
He, however, said, recommendations have been made to the Relief and Rehabilitation Ministry to review the project and take steps to build walls around each home. “Once approved, walls will be built around the safe homes,” he added.
On the night of May 25, 2009, Aila struck 14 coastal districts of the country, leaving a trail of destruction killing 150 and affecting some 30 lakh people.
A visit by the UNB correspondent to the Aila-hit areas of the district shows that the affected people who lost their hearths and homes to the natural disaster are still passing their days in miseries as 400 safe homes built for them have not been what that meant for.
The safe homes, called ‘Sahaniya Griha’ (cyclone proof house), have been built at different villages in Zianagar, Mathbaria, Kawkhali, Bhandaria, Nazirpur, Swarupkathi and Sadar upazilas.
The safe homes – each 15’x10’ -- are said to be vulnerable as their roofs stand over four columns with no wall in between the columns.
According to engineers, living in those houses is not safe as those cannot withstand strong wind and tidal surge in case of any powerful cyclone.
Officials at the local office of Relief and Disaster Management Department said the houses were built in 2010-2011 at a cost of Tk 5 crore from Climate Trust Fund.
Mashiur Rahman, chairman of Balipara union parishad (UP) of Zianagar, said the houses remain virtually unoccupied as people find it risky to live there.
Contacted, the relief officer of Pirojpur informed that 100 Sahaniya Grihas have been built in Mathbaria, the largest upazila of the district, while six other upazilas have 50 houses each.
Zianagar’s Balipara UP chair Mashiur Rahman said the Environment Ministry built these houses, aiming to protect their inmates from cyclone but the houses are hardly used as people think those vulnerable.
“As Bangladesh is regularly hit by cyclone, the cyclone shelters and dwelling houses built in cyclone-prone coastal districts should have been much stronger,” he observed.
Habibur Rahman, a farmer affected by Aila in 2009 said: “The houses built by the Environment Ministry for the cyclone victims aren’t worth living.”
Habib and Kabir Hossain of neighbouring Parerhat union said most of the empty houses have virtually turned into cowsheds. “People don’t live there in fear of being washed away by cyclone. Instead, they keep their cattle there,” they said.
“As the houses have no fence around them it is embarrassing for people to live there with family members,” another affected farmer of Zianagar told this correspondent.
“A few affected people are trying to make the houses livable by setting up polythene-made enclosures around the houses but wind and rain blow them away,” villagers of Nesarabad (Swarupkathi) said.
When contacted, Zahirul Haque, director general of Relief and Rehabilitation Department, said a total of 1,453 Sahaniya Grihas have been built in 22 upazilas of six districts of Barisal division spending Tk 1.20 lakh each.
Quoting the deputy commissioner of the district, he said: “The houses have been built as per government order. Since we’re employees of the state, we’re supposed to carry out the duty of the state.”
He, however, said, recommendations have been made to the Relief and Rehabilitation Ministry to review the project and take steps to build walls around each home. “Once approved, walls will be built around the safe homes,” he added.
Comments
No Comments on this News
