Padma erosion devours fresh areas
Sudden erosion by the Padma river has devoured fresh areas in Ishwardi upazila in the last few weeks, much to the worries of the local people.
Over 500 bighas of cropland have gone into the mighty river due to the untimely erosion by the river near Sara Ghat area in the upazila.
The fresh erosion that started in the middle of last month is also threatening the newly built river protection embankment, known as Ishwardi Town Protection Embankment, in Sara.
Locals alleged that rampant sand lifting from the river is the main reasons behind the untimely erosion.
Rashidul Islam, a resident of Sara Ghat area, said although there is not much pressure of water in the river, the sudden erosion, which started in the middle of November, has devoured hundreds of bighas of cropland along the mighty river.
Over 500 bighas of cropland have already gone in the river, he added.
Locals said due to frequent by the Padma there is no sign of the previous river terminal in Sara.
Several hundred homesteads, many schools and mosques have been washed away by the mighty river in the last couple of decades, they said.
Assistant Director at Pabna Water Development Board (WDB) Mohammad Mosharaf Hossain said they have constructed an eight-kilometre-long river protection dyke on the right bank of the river in Sara ghat area to protect Ishwardi town and Natore's Lalpur upazila.
Construction of the embankment that cost Tk 226 crore started in 2013 and completed in 2017, he added.
"If the erosion continues, people living along the river bank will be affected more," housewife Sobura Begum said.
Many locals alleged that after completing the construction of the town protection work the authorities concerned did not dumped the sand bags properly which causing the sudden erosion.
Pabna WDB Executive Engineer Mohammad Rafikul Alam said there is no fault in the protection work.
Large shoals in the middle of the river is increasing the pressure of water in the river bank that causing the sudden erosion, he added.
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