Emergence of shoals, sand lifting, plying of overloaded vehicles led to collapse

With emergence of large chars on both sides of the bridge across the Jamuna River, strong current makes Sirajganj town protection embankment and nearby areas vulnerable to erosion and collapse.Photo: STAR

Lack of proper monitoring by Water Development Board (WDB) was one of main causes behind the recent breach in Sirajganj town protection embankment, says report of an investigation team formed by the district administration.
Unplanned sand lifting from the riverbed near the embankment, movement of overloaded vehicles on the road cum embankment and obstruction to flow in the main channel of the Jamuna due to emergence of many shoals on both sides of Bangabandhu Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge are mainly responsible for the embankment collapse, says the report.
The report of the a three-member investigation team led by Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Deepok Ranjan Adhikary will be sent to the higher authorities concerned for necessary action, Deputy Commi-ssioner Humayun Kabir told this correspondent yesterday.
WDB Additional Director General (ADG) Habibur Rahman accompanied by WDB high officials yesterday visited the damaged portion of Sirajganj town protection embankment and asked the authorities concerned to take necessary measures to protect the embankment and the district town.
To survey the area for dredging, he earlier visited different chars that emerged on both sides of Jamuna Bridge.
To save Sirajganj town protection embankment and the district town from disasters, initiative to dredge the main channel of Jamuna River will be taken soon as per prime minister's announcement to remove the emerging chars, the WDB ADG told the journalists.
Due to the emergence of a number of shoals, flow of the mighty Jamuna has taken a turn to the town protection embankment, about eight km upstream of the bridge, devouring the embankment, adjacent lands and hundreds of homesteads, he said.
Many homesteads and establishments situated in the upstream of Jamuna Bridge are now under threat due to the strong current caused by obstruction to river flow by the shoals.
The river erosion can be checked if shoals are removed to ensure smooth water flow in the main channel through dredging, the WDB official said.