Stop onslaught of erosion, demand Lohalia victims

Locals form a human chain on the bank of Lohalia River at Idrakpur village in Patuakhali Sadar upazila yesterday demanding steps to save the area from river erosion.Photo: STAR

Erosion-hit people formed a human chain yesterday on the bank of the Lohalia river in Patuakhali Sadar upazila demanding steps to save their houses and lands.
They also submitted a memorandum to deputy commissioner (DC) in this regard.
Participated by more than 200 men, women and children, the human chain started at about 11:00 am and ended at 12:00 noon.
The affected people said, Idrakpur, a village in Lohalia union parishad under Sadar upazila close to Patuakhali town bore the brunt of the erosion.
Erosion turned serious in the last few years threatening about one km area in the village, they said.
Over 200 metres of the newly constructed road from Lohalia terminal to UP office have already been devoured by the river halting road communication.
In the last 10 years, over 500 houses, 200 acres of croplands, mosque, union office, more than 50 shops fell victim to the erosion.
Sahajahan Khan, local UP member said that the embankment on the river was washed away two months ago and tidal water entered the aman fields in the village. At least 100 houses and over 300 acres of croplands are under threat, he added.
Sekander Ali Khan, 50, a farmer of the village said the seasonal vegetables he produced in the past met half of the demand of the town. But cultivation of those vegetables are being greatly hampered now due to the threat of erosion, he added.
"We urged the authorities concerned several times for steps to save us from erosion but to no effect," he lamented.
"We shall be landless if the government did not take immediate step to save our dwelling houses and croplands. Over 4,000 people of the village are passing sleepless nights as erosion turned serious."
UP chairman Advocate Kabir Hossain Talukder said he submitted several prayers to the authorities concerned including Water Development Board (WDB) but all fell into deaf ears.