Erosion by Swelling Jamuna
Over 150 metres of Hazirhat dyke in Gaibandha damaged
Over 150-metre area of Fulchhari Flood Control Embankment collapsed at Hazarhat in Fulchhari upazila under Gaibandha district yesterday, triggering erosion in the area. Photo: STAR
More than 150 metres of the flood protection embankment at Hazirhat in Phulchhari upazila were seriously damaged by the swelling Jamuna following heavy rain in the last couple of days. People of Singria, Udakhali, Ratanpur, Kathur, Uria, Katlamari, Haripur and Chandia areas near the embankment started leaving their homesteads for safer places. Erosion by the river also rendered around 50 families of Namapara and Kamarpara villages in Gajaria union homeless. Vast tracts of cropland and several homesteads were devoured. The erosion hit people have already taken shelter on roads and government offices. The water level of the river was flowing 27 centimeters above danger mark, said an official of Water Development Board (WDB). Phulchhari Degree College, a madrasa, a primary school and two temples are now under serious threat of erosion. During a recent visit, this correspondent found a number of villagers at Namapara leaving their homesteads in fear of erosion. Villagers Nonda Das, Nagen Chadra Das and Zitu Ram Das of Kamapara said the river devoured their homesteads and croplands during the period. Despite repeated pleas, the authorities did not take any step to control the erosion, said Manotosh Roy, chairman of the union. Arun Kumar Sen, an official of Gaibandha WDB, said they have already sent a letter to the higher authorities seeking fund to tackle the situation.
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