<i>Eid nears, but Eidgah still under water</i>
Barapukuria Eidgah Math, the traditional Eid congregation ground for decades, has remained under three to four feet water since January this year, much to the worry of people of seven land subsidence affected villages around Barapukuria Coal Mine.
The situation has arisen as a consequence of underground mining, said people of Barapukuria, Kalupara, Balorampur, Jigagari, Badyanathpur, Moupukur and Islampur villages.
The Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Ltd (BCMCL) authority granted Tk 2.16 lakh for land filling of the Eidgah, but the work sees very slow progress, sources said.
The land filling works that started in late August has remained suspended for a few days as the contractor is facing various problems due to huge surge of water in the area.
If authority fails to complete earthwork of the place, the residents of seven affected villages will have to face problems to offer their Eid prayers this year, said Md Aminul Islam Bachchu, general secretary of Eidgah committee.
However, Md Belal Hossain, general secretary of Barapukuria Jibon O Sampad Rakkha Committee, said that they have an option to arrange Eid congregation at Barapukuria School and College complex if the authority fails to complete earthwork of the Eidgah.
When contacted, BCMCL Managing Director Md Quamruzzaman said, "Tk 2.16 lakh has been allocated for land filling of the Eidgah. We have also allocated Tk 2.32 for erecting a bamboo-made bridge on about one kilometre long road that went under water."
The road subsided due to underground mining, villagers said.
Md Abul Kashem, contactor of the bamboo bridge, said that 400 metres of 850 metre road has been done so far and the remaining portion will be completed before the Eid.
Several locals, have, however, expressed doubt about completion of the huge work in a few days before the Eid.
The BCMCL authority first detected the land subsidence in the area in May 2006.
Villagers said that the frequent land subsidence that affected the arable land badly affected several villages including Kalupara, Bolorampur, Gigagari, Bashudevpur, Moupukur, Patigram, Kashidanga and Palpara villages.
However, BCMCL officials said about 201.07 acres of arable land around BCMCL area including the Eidgah subsided since May 2006 and Tk 3 crore have been distributed among the affected farmers.
Sources, on the other hand, said that the land subsidence of BCMCL area affected at least 2600 families with 646 acres of arable and habitablex lands.
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