Pontoon under water for 6 months
Passengers cannot get on or off launches at the launch terminal on Andharmanik river in Kalapara upazila town as the only pontoon there sank around six months ago, forcing launches to anchor at another place.
Locals said Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority set up the pontoon at the only launch terminal there several years ago, but it became decrepit due to lack of maintenance and sank about six months ago.
In a recent visit to the area, this correspondent saw that the pontoon goes completely under water during high tide, while a part of it is visible during low tide.
Poran Chandra Biswas, a local trader, said no launch can anchor at the terminal and they are facing severe problems in transporting their goods.
Uttam Kumar, another trader of the town, said they face various problems during loading and unloading of goods. Cargo launches cannot anchor there and they have to bear more expense to transport their goods from another place.
Md Shah Alam of Rangabali area said they have to get on the launch without the help of a pontoon, which is very risky.
The authorities concerned should take immediate steps to repair the pontoon considering the problems of the people, he said.
Lessor of the launch terminal Md Golam Rabbani Shamim said he informed the higher authorities about the matter several times, but in vain.
“I visited the place and steps are being taken to set up a new pontoon,” said Patuakhali Port Office Assistant Director Khwaja Sadiqur Rahman.
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