Thousands of haor people under erosion threat

Some 50 villages in Netrakona's Khaliajury upazila are under threat of erosion due to heavy rain accompanied by gusty wind and high waves in the haor waters.

This type of natural calamity is locally known as Afal, said villagers.

At least 20 villages in the haor area have already been washed away in the last 30 years, said Swagoto Sarker Shuvo, president of Haor Unnayan Parishad

The villages are Jagodishpur, Maganpur, Bikrampur, Kanainagor, Sultanpur, Aminpur, Khurshiganj, Kalipur, Hemnagor, Achhanpur, Nurpur, Kacharibari, Habibpur, Durgabari, Nagor, Shibpur, Kamarbari, Norsinghpur, Nayanagor and Saotal.

This type of natural disaster continues from June to November every year in the upazila, said Md Shamim Mia, chairman of Krishnapur union parishad (UP).

This time, some 50 villages out of 85 in six unions are facing threat of erosion due to high waves created in the haors following onrush of waters from the hills across the border through the Surma river and some major haors including Chhayar Haor and Dingaputa Haor, said the UP chairman.

The villages in Krishnapur union-Nazirpur, Muradnagor, Shyampur, Krishnapur, Kutubpur, Kallyanpur, Dulatpur, Muslimpur and Jaherpur are at worst state due to erosion, he added.

The work of setting up of concrete blocks beside Krishnapur Eidgah to Kutubpur road was going on and 50 percent work was done but it has been eroded, said the chairman.

The boundary wall of some educational institutions in the union have also been affected due to this year's natural disaster, he said.

Golam Kibria Jobber, chairman of Khaliajury upazila parishad, said most of the families living in the haor areas are poor but they have to spend a good amount of money every year to save their dwellings from the wrath of natural calamities.

He added that a project titled "Village Protection" has been taken up to save the haor areas from erosion.

The upazila chairman also urged the authority concerned to take necessary steps to save thousands of haor people from the wrath of natural calamities.

Contacted, upazila Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) engineer Md Yunus Ali said to save the haor areas from erosion, the guide wall should be constructed alongside the village roads.

Khaliajury Upazila Nirbahi Officer AHM Ariful Islam said they have already sent a proposal to the ministry concerned in this regard.