300 metres road washed away by Kumar river in Madaripur

FARIDPUR, Oct 11: Road link between Haridasadi and Mahendradi union in Madaripur district has been cut off as about 300 metres of the Tekerhat-Kalibari feeder road in Rajoir upazila were washed away by the Kumar river in a span of two days causing untold sufferings to the locals.

The Water Development Board (WDB) said, "The erosion of the Kumar river began in early September. The Goalbathan area of Tekerhat-Kalibari road was affected most by the erosion. To prevent erosion, geo-bags were dumped on the river bank marking the 85-metre section of the Tekerhat-Kalibari feeder road. As soon as the dumping of geo-bags was over, the water started receding. But with the recession of water, erosion has started afresh. About 300 metres of the road was washed away by the river last Wednesday and Thursday. Another 300 metres of roads and houses and croplands are at risk of erosion".

Thousands of people from the area travel to the district and upazila towns using the Tekerhat-Kalibari feeder road. The road has also been used as an embankment on the Kumar river bank.

On a spot visit, it was seen that about 300 metres of paved road at Goalbathan have disappeared into the Kumar river. The carpeting of the road, bitumen, bricks, sand and soils are falling into the river. On the other side of the road, there is a large area of arable land and a house. No three-wheelers are allowed on the road. Many people are crossing the damaged portion of the road on foot. Ferdous Hawladar, who is afraid of losing his homestead due to the erosion of the Kumar river, said, "The unplanned extraction of sand from the river has caused the catastrophic erosion. If the erosion is not stopped immediately, all the croplands of Vidyanandi will go into the riverbed".

Rezaul Karim, UP chairman of Haridasadi-Mahendradi, said, "I have talked to the WDB authorities and upazila officials on several occasions to protect the road. Despite assurances, they did nothing".

Perth Pratim Saha, an engineer at WDB's Madaripur office, said, "Half of the 85-metre section of the road was washed away by the river last month. The erosion was prevented by urgent dropping of 20,255 geo bags. Proposals have been sent to Madaripur to prevent river erosion. If approved, a permanent embankment will be constructed with permanent river management".

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