Lalmonirhat erosion renders thousands more homeless
Erosion by the Teesta has damaged the dyke at Chondimari village in Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat district, right, the river continues devouring areas at Holdibari village in Hatibandha upazila of the district.Photo: STAR
Erosion by River Teesta rendered about four thousand people of around a thousand families in seven villages under three upazilas homeless during the last three days. Chondimari dyke at Chondimari village of Mohishkhocha union at Aditmari upazila is facing threat as about 200 metres of its protection dam has already been damaged by Teesta in the last three days. Lalmonirhat Water Development Board (WDB) officials and locals said, in case the Chondimari spar washed away the erosion will hit several thousand more families and damage vast crop lands, orchards and important establishments of Mohishkhocha union. Sub-Divisional Engineer of Lalmonirhat WDB Mizanur Rahman however said they are taking necessary steps to protect the Chondimari spar from the Teesta erosion. “We have been dumping sand in synthetic bags into the water to protect the spar since Saturday night,” Mizanur Rahman said. The erosion affected villages are Sindurna, Holdibari, Paruliya of Hatibandha upazila, Votmari village of Kaliganj upazila and Chondimari and Gonordhon villages of Aditmari upazila. The affected people at Holdibari village of Hatibandha upazila told this correspondent that erosion by the Teesta took a devastating turn during the last two days devouring a large number of homesteads. Mansur Ali, 55, of Sindurna village said, the erosion turned serious at Sindurna village of Hatibandha upazila rendering 320 families homeless in 48 hours. Soharab Hossain, 62, another victim at Gobordhon village of Aditmari upazila, said at least 55 families of village lost everything in the last four days. Many people are leaving homesteads in fear of erosion, he said. Union Parishad chairman of Sindurna union in Hatibandha upazila Khotib Uddin said, erosion hit the people of his union hard as it took a serious turn immediately after the flood. "Villagers are now frustrated due to frequent flood and erosion," Khotib said. Visiting the erosion hit areas yesterday morning, this correspondent saw that a large number of affected people have taken shelter on the dam, school and college fields and flood centers. Most of them are leading a subhuman life there for want of food, drinking water. Local UP chairmen and members have already sought aid from the concerned government authorities and NGOs. Contacted, Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mokhlesar Rahman Sarker said fund is not yet available for taking immediate steps for the river erosion victims. "My office has already wrote to the ministry concerned for allocating fund in this regard," he said.
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