Erosion worries residents of 50 villages in Dacope
UNB
Khulna: Unabated erosions at 14 points of three polders of the Water Development Board in Dacope upazila, a coastal area adjacent to the Bay of Bengal, has created a panic among one lakh people of 50 villages of the upazila, reports UNB. Visiting the area and talking to locals, the UNB correspondent found that the officers of the Water Development Board are reluctant to fix the small cracks, resulting in larger cracks and allowing water to flow in whenever there is a high tide.
They alleged that no steps have been taken yet for protecting their arable lands, business establishments and dwelling houses.
Before the advent of monsoon, the water level rises abnormally in about 10 rivers like the Shipsha, Dhaki, Bhadra, Pashur, Jhapjhapia, Manga, Madurchhara, Nalian and Chunkuri.
Some of the residents of the villages are working on their own to repair the embankments whereas many others shifting their businesses and residences elsewhere.
Upazila chairman Abul Hossain said the WDB authorities have been informed about the risky embankments.
Krishnapada Das, Deputy Assistant Engineer of Water Development Board, said the World Bank has started working on dam construction in polder No 32 and 33 for which the WDB cannot work on it.
But, financial help is sought from the authorities concerned to repair the vulnerable embankments of polder No 33 and the work will begin as soon as they get the help, he added.
