Important road faces erosion threat
A portion of the 25-km-long road connecting Sadar upazila headquarters to Khatashia Bazar under Borobighai union is now under threat of erosion, much to the worry of locals.
Around one lakh people of Kalikapur, Motherbunia, Chotobighai and Borobighai unions have to use the road to go to the upazila headquarters as there is no alternative way for them to go to the headquarters.
Four hundred and fifty metres of the upazila connecting road got badly damaged after the severe cyclonic storm “Fani” hit the area on May 3 this year, said locals.
If the damaged portion of the road goes into the Gulishakhali river in Borobighai area, the unions will be disconnected from the upazila headquarters, they said.
Of the damaged portion, 300 metres are at Bashtola while the rest in Kazirhat area of Borobighai union.
In 1990, Water Development Board (WDB) built a dyke along the river bank to protect area from floodwater.
In 2005, Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) constructed the 25-km-long carpeted road on the dyke at a cost of Tk 4.50 crore to ease local people’s communication.
During a recent visit, this correspondent found light vehicles like battery-run auto-rickshaw and motorbike plying the damaged road amid risk of accident as it may collapse anytime due to erosion by the river.
Aslam Sheikh, 60, a resident of Hartokibaria village in Borobighai union, said the road became unfit for use due to lack of renovation work.
When the cyclone hit the area, about 500 metre-long-road at Borobighai went into the river, he said.
If the damaged road collapses, croplands of nearby villages will be flooded, said Aslam.
Siddik Mollah of Kewabunia village said the authorities concerned should take immediate steps to renovate the road.
Md Wahiduzzaman Mojnu Mollah, chairman of Borobighai Union Parishad, said the road lies in awful state since the cyclone hit the area in May this year.
Despite repeated pleas, the authorities concerned are yet to take any steps to repair the road, said the chairman.
Contacted, Patuakhali LGED Executive Engineer Thirthojit Roy said they will start the renovation work of the road after the rains end.
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