Lalmonirhat
Erosion threatens Dharla River protection dam
Nearly one lakh people have been affected and several thousand hectares of crop land have gone under water
OUR CORRESPONDENT
The Dharla river protection dam at Itapota village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila is now under threat of erosion. The dam might disappear into the river any time as some parts of the dam have already been damaged.
Sources said if the dam erodes, several thousand inhabitants of Mogalhat union will be affected by the flood water and hundreds of hectares of crop land will be submerged.
Some villagers, led by the chairman of the union, are trying to repair the damaged part by dumping sand bags at their own initiative.
Mofijul Islam, a college student, has expressed his concern and demanded proper step to protect the dam from erosion.
When asked, chairman of the union Habibur Rahaman said if immediate steps are not taken thousands of villagers will be affected and crops will be damaged. He has urged the authorities concerned to take proper step to save the villages from the erosion.
Executive engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board, (WDB), Lalmonirhat, Shibendhu Khastogir told The Independent that he visited the spot on Saturday. They will take necessary steps within a few days by filling geo-bags to protect the dam from erosion and seek emergency allocation of fund.
On the other hand, an area of about 100 feet of WAPDA dam in Bangram area of Khulaghat union is also under threat of erosion by the Dharla River. Idrish Ali, chairman of Khulaghat union, said the dam has been partially damaged. If heavy rain continues it will be washed away and water will enter Shiberkuti, Dhairkhata and Khulaghat. Thousands of villagers will be affected, he feared.
Incessant rain and water from the upstream inundated the low-lying areas of the north in last 72 hours and most T-aman fields has been submerged. People are suffering due to water-logging in urban areas too. Nearly one lakh people have been affected by the flood water and several thousand hectares of crop land have gone under water. Even authorities at many schools in shoal area have been forced to suspend classes as water entered in the school campus. Guardians are not interested to send their kids for fear of accident.
