Kirtonkhola River lose navigability threatening Barisal River Port
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
BARISAL, Oct 8 (UNB): Barisal River Port, the second largest river port in the country, is under great threat as Kirtonkhola River has lost its navigability due to continued siltation.
Bangladesh Water Transport Authority sources said more than 100 water transports plying on Dhaka-Barisal-Khulna, Chittagong-Barisal-Khulna and other routes of the country remained stranded for hours at Char Shibli diversion channel in last three days until Saturday.
Char Shibli channel was opened two months ago after the closure of Bamnir Khal channel due to accumulation of silt.
Water transports at present fail to approach the launch jetties and steamer stations. The vessels are anchoring about 10 to 15 feet from the jetties or station, as the depth of water near the port became less than four feet.
When asked, deputy director in-charge of Barisal Port Rafiqul Islam and director of pilot and conservancy of Bangladesh Water Transport Authority Abul Bashar said the authority was monitoring the situation closely.
They said the dredging work had already started on an emergency basis since Sunday to increase the depth of water by four more feet in the 200 feet area surrounding the river port's jetties.
Bangladesh Water Transport Authority sources said more than 100 water transports plying on Dhaka-Barisal-Khulna, Chittagong-Barisal-Khulna and other routes of the country remained stranded for hours at Char Shibli diversion channel in last three days until Saturday.
Char Shibli channel was opened two months ago after the closure of Bamnir Khal channel due to accumulation of silt.
Water transports at present fail to approach the launch jetties and steamer stations. The vessels are anchoring about 10 to 15 feet from the jetties or station, as the depth of water near the port became less than four feet.
When asked, deputy director in-charge of Barisal Port Rafiqul Islam and director of pilot and conservancy of Bangladesh Water Transport Authority Abul Bashar said the authority was monitoring the situation closely.
They said the dredging work had already started on an emergency basis since Sunday to increase the depth of water by four more feet in the 200 feet area surrounding the river port's jetties.