River Erosion: Flood control dyke on verge of collapse

Erosion by the Ramnabad river has taken a serious turn, devouring a large portion of the flood control embankment at Tetultala village in Galachipa upazila.

Moreover, several cracks have developed at many points of the paved on the flood control dyke, threatening collapse of the embankment any moment.

Locals said if the erosion continues, at least three villages--Atkhali, Dakua and Hogalbunia--will be flooded by the tidal water.

During a visit to the area this correspondent saw, labourers engaged by the Water Development Board (WDB) were trying to protect the embankment by dumping sand-filled geo bags at the vulnerable points.

According to Patuakhali WDB, the 46-kilometre-long flood control embankment along the Lohalia, Kalagachia and Ramnabad rivers was constructed in 1976-77 fiscal year to protect the life and property of people living along the river banks.

Later, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) built a 21-kilometre-long paved road on the embankment in 1995-96 fiscal year.

The paved road connects five unions--Dakua, Kalagachia, Chiknikandi, Gazalia and Bakulbaria--with Galachipa upazila headquarters and the district town.

Deepak Narayan, former assistant headmaster of Atkhali Secondary School, said this part of the dam was broken twice earlier due to huge current in the river water.

If the embankment collapse, road communication with Galachipa and five unions of the upazila will be completely snapped, he said.

Dakua Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Bishwajit Roy said if the erosion continues like that the grave of journalist leader Altaf Mahmud, a 200-year-old Zamindar house, mosque, temple many other important establishment will be eroded by the river.

Besides, around one and a half lakhs people of different villages under five unions will suffer a lot, he said.

Galachipa Upazila LGED Engineer Jahangir Alam said a project has been taken up to construct a cupping road on the dam.

But, the road construction work cannot be started before the dyke repair work is completed, he said.

Contacted, Patuakhali WDB Executive Engineer Arif Hossain said primarily about 1,500 sand-filled geo bags have been dumped at different breaching points to prevent erosion.