Navigability threatened in Shibbaria River near Kuakata
Land grabbing, lack of dredging main causes
Silting up of riverbed coupled with unabated encroachment and land grabbing threatens navigability of Shibbaria River in the coastal area near Kuakata sea beach, much to the concern to local fishermen and trawler owners.
With two famous hilsa fish markets at Mohipur and Alipur on two sides, Shibbaria River is considered by fishermen as a safe shelter, especially during tidal surges and cyclones.
But in absence of dredging, the riverbed sees gradual rise and as many as 500 illegal structures have been set up on the newly surfaced land mass on the banks.
Consequently, the river is becoming narrow, posing threat to plying of trawlers.
During a recent visit to the area, this correspondent saw many more structures being erected at Mohipur, Alipur, Chaplee Bazar and Lakmi Bazar on the bank of Shibbaria.
"If the government fails to take immediate step to prevent land grabbing on the bank of the river, it will be unfit for movement of fishing trawlers and other water vehicles," said Fazlu Gazi, president of Mohipur fish traders association.
"We are taking plan to set up a harbour on the river and we already sent a proposal to the higher authority concerned for approval. More than one team from Water Development Board including its chief engineer visited the site to take step in this regard," said an official of the WDB executive engineer's office in Khepupara.
Siddiqur Rahman, executive engineer of Patuakhali WDB, said they will take step soon to remove all illegal structures from the riverbank.
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