Jamuna erosion hits embankment
Fresh erosion by the river Jamuna has taken a serious turn in Chowhali upazila of Sirajganj, devouring 100 metres of the under-construction flood protection embankment at Khogener Ghat point of the upazila in the last two days.
Chowhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Sadekur Rahman told this correspondent that a 100-metre stretch from Khogener Ghat to Tekir More point of the upazila was eroded in the last two days.
“Top soil of the under-construction embankment was eroded due to the pressure of water, raising fears of further erosion,” the UNO said, adding that Tangail Water Development Board (WDB) has been informed of the matter and requested to start repair work. Executive Engineer of Tangail WDB Md Shajahan Siraj said, “WDB engineers and workers have started dumping sand bags in the affected areas,” adding that most of the affected areas are in Nagarpur upazila.
This is the second time that erosion has taken place at the same point, sources said. Earlier, a 70-metre stretch of Khogener Ghat point was eroded on May 2. Around 50 metres of the embankment at Alia Madrasa point of the embankment was eroded on May 16. “Different points of the embankment were eroded in the last few weeks due to the huge pressure of water. WDB has repaired all the affected areas and construction work of the embankment is going on. The risk of erosion will be ended after completion of the work,” Shajahan said.
Sources said Tangail WDB started construction of the embankment from Nagarpur upazila in Tangail to Sirajganj's Chowhali upazila at a cost of Tk 109 crore in November 2014, and is scheduled to complete it by April 2018.
UNO Sadekur said a total of 67 metres of the under-construction embankment in Jotpara area of Chowhali upazila were eroded on June 22.
“Use of poor construction materials and lack of monitoring have put the under-construction embankment at risk of erosion. Due to the fault in construction work, Chowhali flood protection embankment was damaged three times in a month,” said Liakot Ali, vice-chairman of Chowhali Upazila Parishad.
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