Jamuna river protection embankment eroded in Bogra

BOGRA, Aug 6: Around 250 metres long stresses of cement concrete (CC) blocks of village protection embankment at Vanderibari area, constructed about some five years ago, was eroded causing concern among the people residing on the river bank of Jamuna.
The people of the area are worried over last week as the water of the river is about to hit the cropland and educational institution. It may be mentioned here in the area that it is the second incidents of erosion in the current season due to negligence of concerned authority, alleged local people.
The first one took place at Koyagari area of the district around 15 days ago as soon as the monsoon had begun while the second one took place in the early morning of August 4 when about 250 metres CC blocks of the area protection embankment eroded in the river and causing tension of the farmers who depend on the cultivation of the land.
However, the second erosion was temporarily repaired by placing geo bags and sand filled bags immediately after the incident by Water Development Board (WDB) authority.
The concerned authority has already visited the area and contacted the WDB for immediate repairing of the embankment. Describing the cause of the erosion, the UP chairman of Vandaeribari Atikul Karim said that indiscriminate sand lifting for the last few years and also movement of hundreds of sand laden trucks daily have caused the erosion.
Now the Jamuna River is only two and half kilometres away from the upazila town with a tendency of continuous erosion. Sumun Kumar, a mobile trader of the area, said, "WDB has already started protective measures by placing geo bags and sand filled bags in the river bed to check further erosion and damage."  
After hearing the news of erosion the sub-assistant engineer of Bogra Water Development Board Harun-ur-Rashid instructed the authority to take immediate protective measures to save the area of the district immediately and the people as well as their belongings from damages.
It may be mentioned here in the district that a one kilometre Vanderibari-Kaigari protection embankment on the right bank of Jamuna River was constructed at the initiatives by the help of the government at an estimated cost of Tk 220 million (Tk 22 crores) in 2007-2008 fiscal year.
    emdadul2015@gmail.com