Disruption of launch services hits business in southern dists
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Our Correspondent
GOPALGANJ, Jan 11: Riverine transportation has been seriously hampered on the country's southern routes, as heavy siltation and emerging shoals in the rivers have disrupted launch services.
According to sources, launch services on Dhaka-Khulna and Barisal-Khulna routes via Gopalganj, Takerhat and Mallarhat have been grounded due to worsening siltation in the Madhumati, Kumar and Ghagor rivers.
Transportation through Madaripur Beel Route canal has also been snapped since October last.
Shoals have emerged in many places of the rivers due to heavy siltation.
Every year the river routes are becoming narrower as the rivers are not dredged in time.
In the situation, the businessmen in the region are travelling and carrying their goods through Dhaka-Khulna, Takerhat-Khulna via Gopalganj and Barisal-Khulna via Mollarhat routes at higher costs.
When contacted, Md Abul Hossain, executive engineer of Water Development Board (WDB), Gopalganj, told the FE that they had already prepared a scheme estimated to cost around Tk 4.04 billion for river dredging and sent it to the higher authority for approval.
Meantime, the country-made mechanised boats have become the lone river transport for carrying passengers and commodities in the region.
GOPALGANJ, Jan 11: Riverine transportation has been seriously hampered on the country's southern routes, as heavy siltation and emerging shoals in the rivers have disrupted launch services.
According to sources, launch services on Dhaka-Khulna and Barisal-Khulna routes via Gopalganj, Takerhat and Mallarhat have been grounded due to worsening siltation in the Madhumati, Kumar and Ghagor rivers.
Transportation through Madaripur Beel Route canal has also been snapped since October last.
Shoals have emerged in many places of the rivers due to heavy siltation.
Every year the river routes are becoming narrower as the rivers are not dredged in time.
In the situation, the businessmen in the region are travelling and carrying their goods through Dhaka-Khulna, Takerhat-Khulna via Gopalganj and Barisal-Khulna via Mollarhat routes at higher costs.
When contacted, Md Abul Hossain, executive engineer of Water Development Board (WDB), Gopalganj, told the FE that they had already prepared a scheme estimated to cost around Tk 4.04 billion for river dredging and sent it to the higher authority for approval.
Meantime, the country-made mechanised boats have become the lone river transport for carrying passengers and commodities in the region.