Padma-Jamuna-Dhaleswari erosion renders 1200 families homeless
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
MANIKGANJ, Nov 2 (UNB): Around 1200 families of Harirampur, Daulatpur,and Shibalaya Upazilas of the distirct have become homeless as their houses went into the gorge of rivers Padma, Jamuna and Dhaleswari in the last two months.
Jafarganj, Dhabulia and Rahatpur villages, hat-bazaars, educational institutions, roads, mosques and madrasas, are now facing threat by the erosion of the rivers.
Local people alleged that the river Jamuna eroded thousand of houses of the areas in the last 50 years but no steps have yet been taken to check the river erosion. The homeless families did not get any help from the government, they alleged .A large number of people took shelter in the neighboring houses or high lands while many are shifting to safer places.
Jionpur, Charkatari, Bachamara, Baghutia, Abudanga and its char areas under Daulatpur Upazila, Dhulsura, Gopinathpur under Harirumpur Upazila, Teota, Aricha, Nihalpur and its char areas under Shibalaya Upazilas are the worst affected.
A vast tract of cropland, hundreds of dwelling houses and many educational institutions in these upazilas were devoured by the river during the period.
Visiting the area the news agency found that a part of Jafarganj-Charkatari road also washed away by the river Jamuna.
Jafarganj Bazaar is also under threat and Goaria Government Primary School, Jafarganj High School and Shafiuddin Maerasha remained only 20-60 yards off the river.
Sufia Begum (60) of Bainya village, said the Jamuna eroded away her tin-shed house recently. Her husband died 7 years ago. She borrowed Tk. 10,000 from an NGO and built the house where she lived with her two young sons but now she is passing days under the open sky. Abdur Rashid, chairman of Charkatari union parishad, said 407 families, out of 427, in Kathaltoli village have become homeless due to the river erosion in the last 15 days. The hapless people need urgent help, he said.
Recently visiting the erosion affected Baliakhora Union High school at Pencharkanda village under Ghior Upazila in Manikganj, the news agency saw that the northern side of the school has already went into river Dhaleswari. Vice-Chairman of Ghior Upazila Parisad and President of the School Managing Committee Habibur Rahman said the Water Development Board can take a project easily to save the school.
When contacted, Ghior Upazila Nirbahi Officer Raja Mohammad Abdul Hye said he visited the area and trying to build permanent dam. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Munshee Shahabuddin Ahmed said he knew the matter. After discussion with the UNOs, he would take necessary steps, he said.
Jafarganj, Dhabulia and Rahatpur villages, hat-bazaars, educational institutions, roads, mosques and madrasas, are now facing threat by the erosion of the rivers.
Local people alleged that the river Jamuna eroded thousand of houses of the areas in the last 50 years but no steps have yet been taken to check the river erosion. The homeless families did not get any help from the government, they alleged .A large number of people took shelter in the neighboring houses or high lands while many are shifting to safer places.
Jionpur, Charkatari, Bachamara, Baghutia, Abudanga and its char areas under Daulatpur Upazila, Dhulsura, Gopinathpur under Harirumpur Upazila, Teota, Aricha, Nihalpur and its char areas under Shibalaya Upazilas are the worst affected.
A vast tract of cropland, hundreds of dwelling houses and many educational institutions in these upazilas were devoured by the river during the period.
Visiting the area the news agency found that a part of Jafarganj-Charkatari road also washed away by the river Jamuna.
Jafarganj Bazaar is also under threat and Goaria Government Primary School, Jafarganj High School and Shafiuddin Maerasha remained only 20-60 yards off the river.
Sufia Begum (60) of Bainya village, said the Jamuna eroded away her tin-shed house recently. Her husband died 7 years ago. She borrowed Tk. 10,000 from an NGO and built the house where she lived with her two young sons but now she is passing days under the open sky. Abdur Rashid, chairman of Charkatari union parishad, said 407 families, out of 427, in Kathaltoli village have become homeless due to the river erosion in the last 15 days. The hapless people need urgent help, he said.
Recently visiting the erosion affected Baliakhora Union High school at Pencharkanda village under Ghior Upazila in Manikganj, the news agency saw that the northern side of the school has already went into river Dhaleswari. Vice-Chairman of Ghior Upazila Parisad and President of the School Managing Committee Habibur Rahman said the Water Development Board can take a project easily to save the school.
When contacted, Ghior Upazila Nirbahi Officer Raja Mohammad Abdul Hye said he visited the area and trying to build permanent dam. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Munshee Shahabuddin Ahmed said he knew the matter. After discussion with the UNOs, he would take necessary steps, he said.