Modhumati erosion fury ravages Magura

MAGURA, Oct 31: Erosion by the Modhumati River erosion has taken a turn for the worse in Mohammadpur upazila of Magura, much to the worry of the local residents.

Modhumati River erosion heat the upazila for the first time in 1954. Since then the river has been continuing soil erosion severely causing extreme miseries to the upazila dwellers.

But their pleas for protecting the upazila from erosion onslaughts has fallen on deaf ears of the authorities concerned.

With the recession of water, the river erosion has taken an alarming turn devouring at least 1,000 acres of cropland within two weeks.

At the same time, the erosion has destroyed at least 100 houses rendering at least 1,000 people homeless. Mainly seven villages of the upazila including Raipasha, Hareykrishnapur, Jhama, Parla, Pachuria, Kashipur and Gopal-nagar have been affected due to the erosion.

Educational institutions, mosques and graveyards of the villages are also now vulnerable to the erosion. The main embankment covering 20 kilometres around the river is now also vulnerable to erosion as a number of cracks have developed in the dam. The river erosion may become more fierce hitting the main embankment. An eight km shoal has emerged in the river.

Due to heavy rainfall, strong currents are flowing over the river. Hitting the shoals, the currents are causing erosion in the riverbanks.

Niranjan Shikder, a resident of Parla village under Mohammadpur Upazila said, "This year I brought my one bigha land under Aman cultivation. Erosion has already damaged 50 per cent of my crop while the rest 50 is at risk."

Mrinal Baroi of Airmaghi village in Mohammadpur upazila said, "Within last 22 years, I have shifted my house for five times. Finally I shifted my house last week as my previous house went under water .But my present house is also highly vulnerable to erosion."

Alamgir Kabir of Kashipur village said, "My grandfather owned about 50 bighas of land. But within last 40 years my land has stood at only 12 bighas being devoured by Modhumati river.

Many other people of my village have turned into street beggars losing their land in the riverbed."

He added, "The only graveyard in our village was protected from erosion by the embankment last year. But this year the graveyard too is vulnerable to erosion. We are demanding effective steps be taken to protect the graveyard . But our cry is falling on deaf ears of the authorities."

When contacted, Water Develo-pment Board, Magura, executive engineer MdSarwar Jahan Shujan said, "We have already written to the higher authorities for allocation of fund to check the river erosion. We shall embark on work just after allocation of fund."

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