Erosion checked at ex-enclave
Over 2000 families in former enclave Banshkata of Patgram upazila are now safe from the Dharla river erosion as river dredging and embankment protection works have been completed costing Tk 24.72 crore.
People in this former enclave area were worried over the continuing erosion by Dharla as the river earlier devoured many homesteads, arable lands and orchards.
Water Development Board (WDB) officials in Lalmonirhat said the river was dredged for four km and embankment protection work for 2050 metres in the former enclave jurisdiction, which is a relief for them as they are now secure from river erosion threat. The development work was started in June 2017 and completed in June 2018.
Mayen Uddin, 75, an inhabitant of former enclave Banshkata, said due to river erosion, they lost many arable lands, homesteads and fruit orchards after the country's Liberation War.
He expressed his gratitude to the government for meeting their demand.
As the river was dredged, water is available in a channel this time, otherwise it was dried fully, said Mahubar Rahman, 55, a farmer of this former enclave.
“We are getting irrigation water from the river this time but it was uncertain in the past,” he added.
“In the past we had to face flood situation as water overflowed during the monsoon due to vulnerable river embankment, but after river embankment protection work we are not facing such problem,” said Sunil Chandra Barmon, 62, of the former enclave.
“Now we are happy as we are enjoying the result of river dredging and embankment protection works,” he said.
The Section Officer of WDB in Lalmonirhat Bajle Rashid said, these development works were done by funding from former enclave developments fund.
If the WDB authority takes regular maintenance for these development works, it would give them output for long time, said Abdur Rashid, 46, a schoolteacher of this former enclave.
Executive Engineer of WDB Abdullah Al-Mamun told the Daily Star, they would continue supervising the development works in the former enclave.
Local lawmaker Motahar Hossain said he will monitor the maintenance of the dredging.