Padma erosion along Rajshahi city takes serious turn

RAJSHAHI, Aug 22: Erosion of the river Padma along Rajshahi city has taken a serious turn as people of the affected areas of village Bosri, Harupur, Kasiadanga, Chapal and Haripur under Rajpara thana were removing homesteads and cutting trees from their fields to save those from being eroded in the river.
It is learnt, the river embankment along the Padma has been intensified for the last two months with the increase of water level of the river during the monsoon. Several thousand people living in those villages were spending their days in panic of being eroded. They have demanded to construct a permanent embankment along the river Padma to save their lives, lands, mango orchards and homesteads.
Meanwhile, leaders of Rajshahi Raskha Sangram Parishad (RRSP), a local organisation working for ensuring social rights of city people, have submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi demanding to construct permanent embankment and steadfast works along the river Padma to save Rajshahi city from the grip of erosion.
The RRSP leaders mentioned at the memorandum that during this monsoon, the breaches have been created at various points of Rajshahi city protection embankment and at various points of the district along the river Padma.
It further mentioned that though the Water Development Board (WDB) of Rajshahi was working to temporary protect the embankment, it was not helping to protect the city embankment permanently. The further mentioned, due to bureaucratic litigation, no project has been taken to construct a permanent embankment along the river Padma to protect Rajshahi city for the last five years.
It is learnt, local MP Fazley Hossain Badsha has repeatedly raised the issue at the Parliament to construct a permanent embankment across the river Padma to save Rajshahi city from the grip of erosion. Even he threatened to start a greater programme with the people of Rajshahi if no action is taken by the government in this connection.
Among others, President of RRSP Liakat Ali, General Secretary Zamat Khan, Organising Secretary Debashish Pranmanik Debu, Professor GM Harun, Nurul Islam, Nafiul Islam, Abdul Matin and Jalal Uddin were present during handing over of the memorandum.
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