Teesta erosion rages on in Rangpur's Gangachara

RANGPUR, Feb 13: Erosion by the Teesta River is continuing to show fury in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur district during the current dry season.
During a recent visit, this correspondent found a vast tract of cropland has been devoured by the river at Shankardaho village in Lakkhitari union of Gangachara upazila during the last couple of weeks.
Around six acres of cropland with peanut, onion, garlic, sweet pumpkin and potato plants have entered the gorge of the river, locals and farmers said.
More than one hundred cultivators of Shankardaho village are now passing days amid anxiety due to the river erosion.
Local farmers apprehended massive crop failure as well as financial loss, if the situation continues.
Expressing apprehension, a good number of farmers who cultivated different varieties of crop on the riverbanks said, as the river erosion is going on even during the current dry season, their croplands may disappear in the river anytime.
Chand Mia, a farmer at Shankardaho village, told The Financial Express that around 35 decimals of his peanut field and 30 decimals of sweet pumpkin field have so far been devoured by the river Teesta.
He is apprehending further crop loss during the upcoming days, he also said.
Expressing disappointment Mantaz Ali another grower of Shankardaho village told FE that with the hope to earn a good profit, he cultivated onion on 45 decimals of land and sweet pumpkin on 40 decimals of land this season.
But around 70 per cent of his crop fields have disappeared due to river erosion, leaving him in distress.
Locals said that during last few years, hundreds of acres of cropland in the area were devoured by the Teesta, resulting in huge financial loss for the cultivators who grew crops near the river area.
If the situation continues, their survival will be under threat, they apprehended.
Chairman of Lakkhitari Union Parishad Abdullah Al Hadi said that the worst-affected area for the river erosion is Shankardaho village.
Locals have been raising a demand for long for constructing a dam along a six kilometre area upstream from the river. But the authorities concerned are yet to take any steps in this regard, he added.
Executive Engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Rangpur, Rabiul Islam said they have taken the Teesta River issue seriously.
Necessary measures are being taken in this regard.
Dumping of sandbags has begun in some affected areas.
A project proposal has already been sent to Dhaka in order to prevent river erosion in the area, he added.

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