Erosion damages Kurigram dyke, threatening village
Erosion by Brahmaputra River devouring soil and sandbags of dyke at Bhatigram village in Ulipur upazila of Kurigram.Photo: STAR
Erosion by the Brahmaputra River has damaged over 400 metre of Bhatigram flood protection embankment at Bhatipara village in Hatia union of Ulipur upazila in the last ten days. Several families living along the 600-metre embankment, constructed last month, near Hatia Bazar at the village are facing a great risk. Sand bags dumped in the river to protect the embankment have been washed away by strong current, said locals. The river also devoured at least four homesteads in the area. Locals feared that Bhatigram mosque, an Eidgah ground and a madrasa of the union may be devoured anytime. During a recent visit to the dyke, this correspondent found that the embankment was losing earth fast, threatening the village. Abul Kashem Master of the village said the embankment constructed by Water Development Board (WDB) only last month and the local bazar were being eroded by the river. Blaming the authorities, Kashem, also an erosion hit victim, said “The embankment could effectively halt the erosion if its length was extended up to the turning point of the village”. Md Abul Hossain, chairman of the union, said the damage of the embankment was quickened due to strong current caused by heavy rain in the last few days. He said, the authorities dumped sand bags in the damaged portion when the erosion took a serious turn but step was not adequate. Contacted, Kurigram WDB sub-assistant engineer Mahibul Islam said growing water level of the river also made the damage to the embankment fasten. About 28,000 sand bags have so far been dumped to protect the embankment, he added. We do not have enough funds to tackle the situation. We have informed the higher authorities about the matter, he added.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments