Teesta river erosion: Many families left homeless in Kurigram, Lalmonirhat
Dharla river shoal people worried as flood control dyke at risk of collapsing
As flood waters recede, the Teesta River banks is being subjected to heavy erosion turning many people landless in Kurigram and Lalmonirhat.
Many homesteads, arable lands and infrastructure have already been lost to the river. Families are in fear of more erosion in the days to come, reports our Lalmonirhat correspondent.
Teesta River has reportedly been eroding at 22 to 25 locations in Kurigram and Lalmonirhat as floodwaters receded, according to Water Development Board.
Gatiashyam village in Kurigram's Rajarhat upazila and Gokunda village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila are among the worst-affected by Teesta erosion. In the last five days, Teesta River erosion has damaged about 55 homesteads and 300 bighas of arable land.
Kurigram Water Development Board Subdivisional Engineer, Mahmud Hasan, said that sand-filled geo-bags are being dumped in Gatiashyam village to stop Teesta River erosion. The community clinic is now risk-free and he also said that all necessary preparations have been made to stop erosion around the village.
Meanwhile in Lalmonirhat, the flood control dyke of Dharla river is at risk of collapsing as the water level of the river is on the rise.
Mogholhat Union Parishad Chairman, Habibur Rahman, said, "Dumping and pitching of CC block in about 200 meters of the dyke will permanently save the dyke. Lalmonirhat town area, Mogholhat, and Kulaghat Union will be flooded if this dyke is damaged. I've spoken with the WDB officials several times about this. They went to the dyke as well. But nothing has been done so far."
According to Mizanur Rahman, executive engineer for WDB in Lalmonirhat, the issue of the dyke has been communicated with higher authorities and the dyke is being routinely observed. With the authorities' approval and necessary funding, work on permanently protecting the dyke will begin.