Teesta fury continues in Lalmonirhat

LALMONIRHAT, Aug 29: The erosion of Teesta River has taken a serious turn at many points of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila over the last few days.
A good number of homesteads and vast tracts of crop land have already been devoured by the river. Many families have already moved to safer places with their valuables. Many of them are living beside the flood protection dam.
The river erosion is continuing at Khuniagach and Gokunda of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila. The Colony Para of Char Gokunda and Harinchara, Kalmati, Premer Bazer, Khalaighat, Rajpur and Bongram are the worst affected areas. Fifteen homesteads and several acres of crops land have disappeared into the river.
Mokbul Hosen, a resident of the village, said he lost his crop land recently. Like him, Azim Uddin, Askar and Samsul of the same village also lost their crop land. Zaharul Haque, a member of local union council, said, "We want a permanent solution to the erosion. We urge the government to build a flood protection dam to save the villagers."
On the other hand, erosion is continuing in Harinchara village of Khuniagach union. A vast track of arable land went into the river. Khairujjaman Badal, chairman of Khuniagach, said thousands of families of his union lost their homestead, crop land and thus they were left paupers by the Teesta in the last one decade. He urged the government to pay an attention to the people living in the Teesta river basin. If the Teesta mega plan was implemented, the sorrows of millions of people might have come to an end, concerned people said.
When asked, Shunil Kumer, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board (WDB) for Lalmonirhat said, initially "We have supplied geo-bags at various points to contain erosion and save homesteads. We have informed the higher authorities of the severe erosion at some points and requested for permanent steps.

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