Teesta devours 300 ft of Gangachhara dyke
With rise in water level in the Teesta River, around 300 feet stretch of Gangachhara embankment at Dhamur point in Rangpur has been eroded in the last four days.Photo: STAR
Erosion by the river Teesta took a serious turn at Dhamur point, devouring around 300 feet of Gangachhara embankment in the last four days. Part of the embankment went into the river during last year's flood, but locals saved it from further collapse by putting sand bags in the breached portion. Water Development Board (WDB) said rise in water level in the Teesta caused damage to the embankment. “We are dumping sand bags in the damaged portion to protect the embankment from further erosion,” sub-assistant engineer Mahbub Ali said. Locals alleged that the dyke collapsed as the contractor engaged by Water Development Board (WDB) last year did not repair the breached portion before rainy season. The contractor was waiting for further damage to the embankment so that he could demand more allocation of fund against the work, they said. Refuting the allegation, contractor Shahadat Hossain said he could not star repair work on the embankment as fund was not available. Shahadat alleged that he did some repair works on the dyke last year, but bill payment has not been made yet WDB Executive Engineer Anwar Hossain said work order was given to the contractor last year on condition that he would finish the repair work worth Tk 2 crore by March this year. The contractor did not do the job for not getting the fund for repair of the damaged embankment, the engineer added. People of Dhamu village also held the officials of Rangpur Water Development Board responsible for collapse of the embankment. They are not at all serious about protection of the embankment from river erosion, the villagers added.
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