Erosion by Padma takes serious turn in Faridpur
Around 200 acres of arable land, portion of road devoured since mid-October
With decreasing water level in the Padma river, erosion has taken a serious turn at two villages under Decrirchar union in Sadar upazila, devouring fresh areas including a large portion of an important village road and vast arable land.
Local people said erosion by the Padma river is going on at Pauldangi and Taher Fakirdangi villages, stretching about one and a half kilometres areas under the union.
They said around 200 acres of arable land has already been devoured by the mighty river in the last couple of weeks.
Moreover, about 80-feet portion of the Paldangi road has been washed away by the river, villagers said, adding that more than 4,000 inhabitants of five villages use the road, which is their only means of communication to go the upazila and the district town.
During a visit to the two erosion-hit villages this correspondent saw vast arable lands, a boat terminal and portion of a brick-made road have been devoured by the swelling river.
The fresh erosion is also posing threat to some 20 houses, including 12 houses of an Ashrayan Project of the government.
Zakir Pramanik, 35, a resident of Taher Fakirerdangi village, said the erosion first started in August, but it took serious turn and started devouring fresh areas since mid-October.
Zahid Pramanik, 33, of the same area said if the authorities concerned do not take any immediate step to check the erosion more croplands and dwelling houses will devour into the river.
Decrirchar Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Mehedi Hasan said he urged the Water Development Board (WDB) to take necessary steps in this regard, but to no avail.
Faridpur WDB Executive Engineer Partha Protim Saha said they have nothing to do as the two erosion-hit villages are located in char areas, but WDB conducts its development works only on mainland.
Kazi Razaul Karim, chief scientific officer at Faridpur River Research Institute, said his institute can work to prevent the erosion in the affected areas, using bamboo bundle method, but they do not have funds to do the work.