Teesta, Padma erosion continuing havoc in Gangachara, Daulatpur

Erosion by the Teesta River has turned fierce in the past ten days wreaking havoc across different areas of Gangachara upazila of Rangpur district while swelling of the water level

of the Padma River has intensified riverbank erosion in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia district in recent times.

Our correspondent from Rangpur says: Soil erosion by the Teesta Rivers is continuing along vast tracts of land in Kachari Para, Baghdogra, Nohali and Minarba-zar in Gangachara upazila of the district. At least 25 houses and around 40 acres of cropland have already been devoured by the gluttonous Teesta.

The fierce river keeps eroding the banks at various places, submerging huge farmland and swallowing a large number of trees, including valuable fruit-bearing trees.

Unrelenting river erosion is jeopardising existence of the local infrastructures and farmland, creating widespread fear of an impending disaster.

During a visit to the affected areas, the FE correspondent observed erosion victims enduring

severe hardship.

Syed Mia of Char Minarbazar area in Nohali union told the story of losing his house and one bigha of land into the gorge of the eroding river. Presently, Syed and his family are suffering badly, living almost with nothing.

Suruj, a resident of Kacharipara area, told The Financial Express that recurrent erosion by the ferocious Teesta is persistently engulfing homesteads and agricultural yields in the area.

Within a span of ten days, locals lost their dwellings alongside other properties. Lamenting their destitution, Suruj emphasised that the complete loss of assets coupled with a lack of employment has turned daily survival into an uphill battle.

It is learnt that haunted by the threat of destructive river erosion in the days ahead, people in the affected areas of Gangachara upazila are compelled to pass sleepless nights.

Some are trying to shift their houses to safer places, though they know that another place, which now seems to be safe, might be devoured by the river within the coming days.

Local sources said an embankment had been constructed through voluntary efforts of locals near the Nohali area to protect cultivated land, roads, and homesteads.

But recently the dam has disappeared due to a rise in the Teesta's water level, resulting in severe inundation across the nearby areas.

Locals alleged that they have already informed the upazila administration and Water Development Board (WDB) about the situation but the authorities are yet to take any effective

steps to ease their distress.

Nohali Union Parishad Chairman Ashraf Ali said that the erosion situation is deteriorating day by day. Necessary measures should be taken to stop further erosion in the areas to get rid of massive losses, he added.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Gangachara Jesmin Akter said they are preparing a list of the affected people. Necessary steps are being taken to save the vulnerable areas from river erosion, she added.

Executive Engineer of WDB, Rangpur Rabiul Islam said that they have already visited the affected areas several times. Some 4,500 geo-bags have already been allocated to prevent erosion of the embankment.

A correspondent from Kushtia adds: Over the past few days, rising water levels in the Padma's tributaries-the Mathabhanga and the Hisna- have continued erosion in several areas.

According to local residents, the geo-bags allocated in the erosion-prone areas have been found largely ineffective. They are demanding a permanent solution to this problem.

According to the Water Development Board, water levels have risen in the Padma, Mathabhanga, and Hisna rivers following incessant rainfall and an onrush of water from the upstream. As a result, erosion has occurred on the riverbanks of Majdia, Koldia, Faizullahpur, and Hatkholapara villages in Moricha union of the upazila.

Several hundred acres of arable land and various crops belonging to hundreds of farmers have already been engulfed by the river over the past 15-20 days.

According to the Kumarkhali Meteorological office in Kushtia, the district recorded 46 millimeters of rainfall in the past three days, with a forecast of further rain over the next three days.

At Hardinge Bridge point, the Padma River's water level stands at 10.53 meters according to the Water Development Board. This is significantly below the danger mark of 13.80 metres.

Despite being at grave risk, Udaypur village in Chilmari union has not yet experienced any river erosion.

Local residents said river erosion damages thousands of acres of cropland and countless homes every year. Numerous families have been displaced multiple times, turning them destitute.

Despite repeated demonstrations, including human chains, authorities have yet to take any permanent or effective measures, they lamented.

Sihab Hossain, a farmer from Bhurkapara, lost 50 bighas of agricultural land including jute fields to the river in 20 days. More than a hundred acres of cropland in this union have been swallowed by the river in just 15 to 20 days," said Moricha Union Parishad former Chairman Saidur Rahman. A prompt intervention is now critical for preventing erosion, especially in the vulnerable Koldia area.

As water levels rose, severe erosion began along the Padma River.

In response, geo-bags are being dumped on an emergency basis in the erosion-hit areas to protect the lives and properties of local residents, said Superintending Engineer of Kushtia Water Development Board, Zahidul Islam.

Reza Ahmed (BachchuMollah), BNP-backed lawmaker for Kushtia-1 constituency (Daulatpurupazilla), told this correspondent that he raised the river erosion issue in parliament and held a constructive meeting with the minister.

While a permanent solution will take time, Tk 20million has been allocated for immediate erosion prevention, he added.

sayedmofidulbabu@gmail.com

mirbabu65@gmail.com