Three quarters of Kuakata Nat’l Park gone in the sea
After taking heavy pounding from different cyclonic storms such as Sidr, Aila, Fani, Amphan and most recently Yaas, Kuakata National Park by the sea beach lost three quarters of its land and forestry in little over a decade's time.
According to the Forest Department in Patuakhali, more than 2.5 lakh trees and around 2,000 acres of forest land on Kuakata beach have been lost to the sea due to Cyclone Sidr in 2007 and various other cyclonic storms that swept through the region till date.
Kuakata National Park was established on 13,984 hectares of forestland in Gangamoti, Latachpali, Khajura and Fatrar Bon areas alongside Kuakata beach where the Forest Department initially spent Tk 2.76 crore to establish an ecopark in 2005-06 fiscal year, as part of its coastal afforestation programme.
Around 42,000 trees of different species were planted in the park where the authorities also built five picnic sheds, an eye-catching wood bridge, dirt trekking paths, several culverts, ticket counters, office buildings and various other establishments.
Jhau (casuarina equisetifolia) trees were planted along the southern shore in a bid to protect the park from tidal wind and surges.
During a recent visit to the park, this correspondent came across many uprooted jhau trees and bits and pieces of damaged picnic sheds and sections of boundary wall scattered all over the beach.
Forest guard Monirul Islam said that while the forestry is being diminished every year due to cyclones, floods and high tides, Cyclone Amphan last year alone uprooted about 1,000 trees on the beach.
Tourists and students from different parts of the country used to visit the scenic park for its flora and fauna, but the deteriorating state of Kuakata National Park and the adjacent beach will ultimately affect the number of visitors when all lockdown restrictions are lifted, said Rumman Imtiaz Tushar, president of Kuakata Tour Operators' Association.
Patuakhali Divisional Forest Officer Abdullah Al Mamun said the Kuakata beach has been facing massive erosion since Cyclone Sidr.
Only 1,300 acres of forestland that still exists near the beach may soon disappear unless effective and sustainable measures are taken to protest the Kuakata coastline, he added.
Kuakata town Mayor Anwar Hossain said that with no effective measures taken to protect the coastline so far, the Kuakata beach is losing its beauty as it is slowly disappearing into the sea.
Contacted, Executive Engineer Abdul Halim Salehee of Bangladesh Water Development Board in Patuakhali said they already made a proposal to construct a permanent embankment for the protection of Kuakata sea beach and the proposal was sent to the higher authorities for approval.
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