River erosion has severely hit at least 26 points on the banks of different Rivers flowing through the greater Barisal district in the last two months.
Different establishments including roads, crop lands, houses, educational and religious institutions, shops, and ferry terminals are getting washed away every day, causing heavy loss to around five lakh residents of the region.
For management of these 26 points, Water Development Board (WDB) took a Tk410 crore River Erosion Protection Project last year, however, government was yet to allocate fund for the project, said Zahiruddin Ahmed, executive engineer WDB Barisal office.
He said: “We have received only Tk20 core for working at six points whereas 2o more points in Harinathpur of Hizla, Charbaria of Barisal sadar, Nazirpur and Gudighat of Muladi, Darial and Badalpara under Bakerganj upazilas are largely affected. For that, the Tk410 crore River Erosion Protection Project needs to get rolling.”
Cracks have appeared on the embankment of Meghna River in different parts of Ulania. The mighty river has already eroded vast tracts near the Patarhut steamer terminal, Lengutia, Sreepur and other river-bank areas under Mehendiganj upazila.
The heavy flow of the Meghna has also washed away vast portions of Harinathpur, Aliganj Bazaar, Dhulkhola, and Baushia villages under Hizla, Nazirpur, and Gudighat of Muladi upazilas.
Erosion of the Sugandha River bank has created cracks on the approach road of Birshrestha Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Bridge in Mohishadi area on the Barisal-Dhaka Highway and washed away vast tracts in Manikkathi, Rakudia and other parts under Babuganj upazila.
Regarding saving the approach road, Zahiruddin Ahmed said: “After an inter-ministerial meeting, it was decided that the Roads and Highways department would fund while the WDB would carry out the project. We have sent the plan and estimates, but yet receive the fund.”
Khalid Shahed, executive engineer of Barisal Roads and Highways Department, said funds might be allocated as soon as the government sanctions it under budget for the new fiscal year.
Meanwhile, the Arial Kha River has washed away a sawmill, a rice mill, and some residential lands in Rafiadi under Chandpasha union of Babuganj within just a week. Other hundreds of establishments in the area are at the risk of being washed away.
The Sandhya River has eroded different areas in Sakrail, Chatalbari under Wazirpur, Shialkathi ferry terminal and Dandoyat, Chaulakathi, Goalbari, and Masjidbari areas under Banaripara upazila.
Laxmipasha, Durgapasha, Kobai areas under Bakerganj upazila are in a risky position to get washed away anytime by the speedily advancing flow of Karkhana River.
The Kirtankhola River has endangered surface water treatment plant, ferry terminals, ice factories, shipyards at Beltala, Singherkathi, and Taltali-Lamchhari Road under Charbaria union.
Twenty shops, ferry pontoon and connecting roads washed away around 6am yesterday when the Kirtankhola River overflew its bank on the east near Barisal River Port.
This correspondent found panicked people hastily transferring their properties from the affected area. Ahmadia Fazil Madrasa is now under threat getting washed away.
Barisal Sadar Upazila Chairman Saidur Rahman Rintu said the pressure created by the down stream rivers made the situation worse. Implementation of a long term sustainable river management policy was needed to control erosion.
Zahiruddin also said the WDB Barisal office was waiting for approval to two more emergency projects of Tk24.49 lakh and Tk23.91 lakh for preventing erosion by placing porcupine and sandbags in Beltala area.
