Erosion renders 24000 families homeless in four years

MADARIPUR, Jan 24: Erosion by rivers has rendered about 23,800 families homeless and also devoured some 12,185 acres of agricultural lands in four thanas of the district in last four years, reports UNB.

During this period, 45 villages of 10 unions in Shibchar thana went under water due to erosion by rivers Padma and Arial Khan, local people said.

Besides, the erosion by rivers Arial Khan and Kumar has partially affected 18 villages of nine unions in Sadar thana of the district. At least 5,000 families were hit as some 500 acres of lands were grabbed by erosion.

Meanwhile, 13 villages of five unions in Kalkini thana were partially washed away by the erosion of rivers Arial Khan and Palodi. The erosion ate up some 485 acres of lands, leaving 2,000 families homeless.

In Rajoir thana, nine villages of four unions were partially affected by erosion. Rivers Arial Khan and Kumar devoured about 200 acres of lands of 1200 families.

Thousands of people in the erosion-affected areas were being forced to give up farming after losing their agricultural lands and homesteads.

Meanwhile, work of the government-sponsored "Ashrayan" project is going on to rehabilitate 50 landless families in Thengamara area of Kalkini thana.

Many families rendered homeless by the erosion of river Kumar have taken shelter in the ideal village of Hridoynandi of Tekerhat in Rajoir thana.

But most of these people are suffering from various skin diseases due to arsenic-contaminated water. Of them, the condition of 11 people was said to be critical.

About 15,600 landless families of Shibchar thana, affected by erosion, have taken shelter on the Bhanga-Maowa road and on high grounds in the area for the last three years.