Dharla erosion turns serious
Erosion by the Dharla river has taken a serious turn at two bordering villages -- Chawratari and Dighaltari -- in Sadar upazila in the last three weeks, eroding a vast tract of land and banana orchards.
About 200 bighas of land, two banana orchards and three bamboo clusters have already been washed away by the river, said locals.
Over 2000 villagers are now under threat of erosion as their homesteads may go into the river anytime.
Erosion-hit victim Suzal Uddin, 48, of Chawratari village, said as India built a dyke at Bharbanda- Gidaldah of Cooch Behar district around 2 km upstream off no-man’s land, the river’s flowing channel was changed. Due to this, Dharla joining trans-boundary river Gidari has been flowing through these two villages alarmingly.
Saheron Bewa, 67, a widow of Chawratari village, said her five bighas of maize land were devoured by Dharla.
As Dharla continued devouring, her homestead may go into the river anytime, she said.
Abu Sifian, 52, a farmer of the same village, said his eight bighas of arable land and two banana orchards on four bighas of land have been eroded during the time.
The villagers urged the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to check the erosion to save their homesteads.
Habibur Rahman, chairman of Mogholhat Union Parishad, said the authorities should take necessary measures on an urgent basis to check the erosion otherwise Dharla will devour homesteads and render many people homeless.
He has already informed the officials of Water Development Board (WDB) about the matter, said the chairman.
Lalmonirhat WDB Sub-Divisional Engineer Bajle Rashid said he has already written to the higher authorities for fund but no response yet to come.
Comments