A sluice gate built by Water Development Board (WDB) six month ago at the mouth of Barabhetkhali canal in Mirgang river for draining out water has now turned into a bane for local people. At least 18 villages in Munshiganj and Romjannagar unions in Shyamnagar upazila were flooded yesterday as water entered the areas from Mirgang river through holes created in the embankment of the sluice gate. The water is not receding as the sluice gate is inoperative, locals said. WDB constructed the sluice gate at a cost of Tk 75 lakh The affected villages are Mirgang, Boro Bhetkhali, Jyotindra Nagar, Harinagar, Parshemari, Chhoto Bhetkhali, Munshoganj and other adjoining villages in Munshganj union in Shyamnagar upazila. Over 100 families are now marooned and they have taken shelter on nearby high lands. Ready for harvest Boro paddy on about 200 acres were damaged and shrimps were washed away from at least 225 enclosures, Munshiganj Union Parishad chairman Asim Kumar Miridha said. This has also caused scarcity of drinking water as most of the tube wells have gone under knee deep floodwater, he said. Locals said local people donated land for construction of the sluice gate The construction work was inaugurated on February 2, 2006 by the then Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam. But the sluice gate subsidized within six months due to faulty construction, villagers alleged The sluice gate subsidized due to faulty construction, alleged Master Aslam Sheikh of Jyotindra Nagar. On contact, local WDB executive engineer said they are trying to repair the damage.