After Aug flood, Lalmonirhat now faces devastating Teesta erosion

LALMONIRHAT, Oct 16: Following a flash flood in late August triggered by heavy rainfall upstream of Teesta, Lalmonirhat is now struggling with river erosion as water levels recede.

The erosion has taken a serious turn at Khuniagach union of Sadar upazila, leaving several hundreds of rural people completely devastated and consuming nearly 100 acres of cultivable land.

Local farmers in Kalmati village of the union said they have lost their homes, crops, trees, and orchards over the past few days, now forced to endure a destitute existence in the open air.

During a visit to the area, many villagers were found desperately relocating their residences and belongings to safer ground, as the river relentlessly encroached upon the land day and night.

Farmer Zahangir Alam was relocating his poultry shed from his homestead to another location. He said this poultry farm was his sole source of income, but now the river has claimed his homestead.

Zahangir was worried about how he would provide for his family and repay his loans.

However, other farmers like Amjad Hosen or Ahammad were not as fortunate as Zahangir was.

Mokbul Hossein, an elderly farmer of the village, said he has lost more than two acres of cropland due to the erosion. Like him, many farmers in the village have seen their arable land disappear in the last few days.

Teesta has ruined their croplands and everything they had - forcing them to beg on the streets.

Some other villagers reportedly had left the area for Dhaka in search of work.

Mokbul pointed out that the Water Development Board (WDB) placed some Geo bags at several points to slow the river erosion, but their efforts were in vain.

These bags are now buried under the sand. The concrete blocks were dislodged by the immense water rush from upstream during the recent flood.

The 80-year-old cried for a permanent solution to protect the village, as he feared it could be consumed by the river in a very short time.

Local chairman ASM Khairujjaman said he has compiled a list of the victim families and has already submitted it to the Lalmonirhat deputy commissioner.

Shunil Kumar, executive engineer of the Water Development Board (WDB) in Lalmonirhat, said they have placed some Geo bags in the area, but more are needed.

After claiming a lack of adequate funds to combat erosion, he called for emergency funding from higher authorities to address the issue.

ahasnathrana@yahoo.com