Erosion takes serious turn in dists

River erosion has taken serious turn in different districts devouring homesteads, farm lands and roads. Our Jhenidah correspondent reports: Water level of the Kumar River, fed by rain water and flow from upstream, in Shailkupa upazila has increased triggering erosion in 16 villages in Shailkupa upazila. Chairman of Sharutia union Mahamudul Hasan Mamun said high waves and strong current in the river are causing serious erosion in the area. He said over 100 bighas of cropland went into the river Kumar in last three months. The worst affected areas are Boruria, Bakharba, Krishnanagar, Kirtinagar, Gosaidanga, Sarutia, Shahbaria and Gangkula village.
Chairman of Hakimpur union Shikdar Kamruzzaman Ziku said vegetables field, banana orchards of Madla and Khulumbaria villages of his union has been perished in to the river. Islam Mia, a villager, said the severe erosion by the Kumar has destroyed houses, markets, rice fields, crops, orchards, and different assets worth crores of taka. Habibur Rahman, teacher of Shailkupa degree college, said the size of  Shailkupa is becoming smaller due to the erosion.
Executive engineer of Jhenidah palli development board Apurba Kumar said he visited the area few days ago. Water level in the Kumar River has increased this rainy season, affecting crop lands and homesteads. He said a large fund is required to repair the embankments at places and prevent erosion at any cost.
The Kumar River ended to the Gorai River in Kushtia district. So, there is very strong current in the river. “We have to start work after this rainy season. Otherwise, a big trouble can happen in next season,” he said.  Our Kushtia correspondent adds: At least three houses and some educational institutions have been engulfed by the Padma River at Islampur village in Daulatpur upazila. There has not been an effective measure take to protect the area, said sources.
The villagers, who live close to the river, are in great panic due to the rising water level of the Padma.  According to sources, the government has allocated Tk 82 crores to build a dam. Earlier, the government had allocated TK 22 crores for a project from the Climate Change Trust Fund in 2013; but nothing jas changed.
The people of the union seek a permanent solution to the problem.  Our Tangail correspondent adds: Parts of the important Kutiboira-Jogothpura flood control embankment in Bhuapur upazila of Tangail has been washed away by the river
Jamuna. About 200 homesteads of Aurjuna, Char Aurjuna and Chukainagor villages were devoured by the Jamuna during the last seven days affecting a few thousand people. On the other hand, the Bhuapur-Tarakanda road-cum-embankment has become vulnerable.
Cracks have developed at many points along the 5-km embankment. Vast tract of land on the east side of the embankment in Bhuapur and Gopalpur upazilas will be affected if the embankment is washed away. Communication with Dhaka from Tarakanda and transportation from Jamuna fertilizer to the northern and southern districts through the embankment-cum-road will be halted if the erosion takes its toll.
About 5 lakh people of the area are living in panic due to the vulnerable condition of the embankment. Local people urged the deputy commissioner of Tangail to stop illegal sand collection for the river.
Ex-UP member Alim Uddin said sand is being collected and dumped at several points of river bank.
The flood control embankment of WDB is being eroded by the wave created by the movement of sand carrying cargo vessels. Rat holes are also responsible for erosion, locals opined.  Mojibor Rahman Master of the village said that several more villages will be washed away if the embankment is eroded.  Permanent water logging will be created, he warned.
Deputy Commissioner of Tangail, Md Mahbub Hossain said WDB has been instructed to take necessary step to stop erosion. He hopes that WDB will start the work soon.
Shahjahan Siraj, Executive Engineer of Tangail WDB, said they have sent a project proposal with an involvement of Tk 2.54 crores.
Our Bhola correspondent says: About 200 metres of Bhola-Laxmipur road in Rajapur union have already been devoured by the Meghna River as erosion has taken serious turn in area.
Sources at the Bangladesh Water Development Board in Bhola said they have started dumping sand bags to protect the river bank from erosion since July 25 following the directive from Commerce Minister Tofail Ahamed.
But erosion further took serious turn during the last two days and about two meteres of Bhola- Laxmipur road was eroded into the river.
 Bhola-Laxmipur ferry terminal has already been shifted to nearby ‘Bisshaw road’ area.
Abdul Hekim, executive engineer of WDB, Bhola said about 50,000 sand bags were dumped into the river bank till Wednesday. But locals said it has not be done properly and not sufficient to protect the area from erosion.
Locals fear if erosion continues thousands of homesteads, cultivable lands and shops at Rajapur and Ilisha Jongson Bazaar, two colleges, two high schools, four primary schools, and two madrassas will be devoured by the river soon.

Erosion takes serious turn in dists

River erosion has taken serious turn in different districts devouring homesteads, farm lands and roads. Our Jhenidah correspondent reports: Water level of the Kumar River, fed by rain water and flow from upstream, in Shailkupa upazila has increased triggering erosion in 16 villages in Shailkupa upazila. Chairman of Sharutia union Mahamudul Hasan Mamun said high waves and strong current in the river are causing serious erosion in the area. He said over 100 bighas of cropland went into the river Kumar in last three months. The worst affected areas are Boruria, Bakharba, Krishnanagar, Kirtinagar, Gosaidanga, Sarutia, Shahbaria and Gangkula village. Chairman of Hakimpur union Shikdar Kamruzzaman Ziku said vegetables field, banana orchards of Madla and Khulumbaria villages of his union has been perished in to the river. Islam Mia, a villager, said the severe erosion by the Kumar has destroyed houses, markets, rice fields, crops, orchards, and different assets worth crores of taka. Habibur Rahman, teacher of Shailkupa degree college, said the size of Shailkupa is becoming smaller due to the erosion. Executive engineer of Jhenidah palli development board Apurba Kumar said he visited the area few days ago. Water level in the Kumar River has increased this rainy season, affecting crop lands and homesteads. He said a large fund is required to repair the embankments at places and prevent erosion at any cost. The Kumar River ended to the Gorai River in Kushtia district. So, there is very strong current in the river. We have to start work after this rainy season. Otherwise, a big trouble can happen in next season, he said. Our Kushtia correspondent adds: At least three houses and some educational institutions have been engulfed by the Padma River at Islampur village in Daulatpur upazila. There has not been an effective measure take to protect the area, said sources. The villagers, who live close to the river, are in great panic due to the rising water level of the Padma. According to sources, the government has allocated Tk 82 crores to build a dam. Earlier, the government had allocated TK 22 crores for a project from the Climate Change Trust Fund in 2013; but nothing jas changed. The people of the union seek a permanent solution to the problem. Our Tangail correspondent adds: Parts of the important Kutiboira-Jogothpura flood control embankment in Bhuapur upazila of Tangail has been washed away by the river Jamuna. About 200 homesteads of Aurjuna, Char Aurjuna and Chukainagor villages were devoured by the Jamuna during the last seven days affecting a few thousand people. On the other hand, the Bhuapur-Tarakanda road-cum-embankment has become vulnerable. Cracks have developed at many points along the 5-km embankment. Vast tract of land on the east side of the embankment in Bhuapur and Gopalpur upazilas will be affected if the embankment is washed away. Communication with Dhaka from Tarakanda and transportation from Jamuna fertilizer to the northern and southern districts through the embankment-cum-road will be halted if the erosion takes its toll. About 5 lakh people of the area are living in panic due to the vulnerable condition of the embankment. Local people urged the deputy commissioner of Tangail to stop illegal sand collection for the river. Ex-UP member Alim Uddin said sand is being collected and dumped at several points of river bank. The flood control embankment of WDB is being eroded by the wave created by the movement of sand carrying cargo vessels. Rat holes are also responsible for erosion, locals opined. Mojibor Rahman Master of the village said that several more villages will be washed away if the embankment is eroded. Permanent water logging will be created, he warned. Deputy Commissioner of Tangail, Md Mahbub Hossain said WDB has been instructed to take necessary step to stop erosion. He hopes that WDB will start the work soon. Shahjahan Siraj, Executive Engineer of Tangail WDB, said they have sent a project proposal with an involvement of Tk 2.54 crores. Our Bhola correspondent says: About 200 metres of Bhola-Laxmipur road in Rajapur union have already been devoured by the Meghna River as erosion has taken serious turn in area. Sources at the Bangladesh Water Development Board in Bhola said they have started dumping sand bags to protect the river bank from erosion since July 25 following the directive from Commerce Minister Tofail Ahamed. But erosion further took serious turn during the last two days and about two meteres of Bhola- Laxmipur road was eroded into the river. Bhola-Laxmipur ferry terminal has already been shifted to nearby Bisshaw road area. Abdul Hekim, executive engineer of WDB, Bhola said about 50,000 sand bags were dumped into the river bank till Wednesday. But locals said it has not be done properly and not sufficient to protect the area from erosion. Locals fear if erosion continues thousands of homesteads, cultivable lands and shops at Rajapur and Ilisha Jongson Bazaar, two colleges, two high schools, four primary schools, and two madrassas will be devoured by the river soon.