Erosion by Dharla turns serious

Erosion by the Dharla river at four villages in two upazilas of Lalmonirhat and Kurigram has turned serious, washing away homesteads and croplands every day.

Affected people formed a human chain on the east side of Sheikh Hasina Dharla Bridge at Sonaigazi village in Phulbari upazila of Kurigram, demanding steps to check the erosion.

The villages are Kharuya and Banshpochai in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, and Sonaigazi and Paschim Dhaniram villages under Phulbari upazila.

Head teacher of Kutibari High School Azgor Ali said at least 100 homesteads and 300 bighas of arable lands have been devoured by the Dharla river in the last two weeks. “Erosion is devouring homesteads, croplands and orchards, but Water Development Board (WDB) is not taking any step to check it,” he said.

Phulbari Degree College Principal (retd.) Professor Aminur Rahman said if the WDB authorities do not take prompt steps to check the erosion, it will pose a serious threat to Sheikh Hasina Dharla Bridge.

Shimulbari Union Parishad woman member Jannati Begum said they have informed the local administration and WDB authorities in Lalmonirhat and Kurigram about the serious erosion. “We urge the authorities to take steps to check the erosion immediately, otherwise we will go on the road for realising our demand,” she said.

“My four bighas of arable land and a bamboo orchard on 20 decimals of land have been eroded and the rest of the croplands are under threat,” said Nural Islam, 58, of Kharuya village in Sadar upazila.

Sirazul Islam, 48, of Pashchim Dhaniram village in Phulbari upazila, said he and his four- member family have taken shelter in a relative's house as his homestead with ten decimals of land was devoured by the Dharla.

Lalmonirhat WDB Executive Engineer Abdullah Al-Mamun told this correspondent that the WDB engineer has visited the spots and is preparing a report to submit to the higher authorities concerned, seeking funds for checking the erosion immediately.