Erosion by the Gorai river has taken a serious turn in the last one month, rendering 10 families homeless and devouring 200 acres of agricultural land at three villages in Sreepur upazilla of Magura.
The badly affected villages are Mazhail, Razdharpur and Kalinagar under Nakol union in the upazila.
The villagers said over 200 trees have also been damaged due to the erosion.
During a recent visit to the areas, the Dhaka Tribune found that over 500 acre agricultural lands are at risk of going under the water.
If necessary steps are not taken immediately, the Kamrkhali Bridge on Dhaka–Khulna highway may also be damaged soon, cutting the road link between the country’s south western region and the capital.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, many villagers alleged that illegal lifting of sands from the river is one of the main reason of the erosion.
An influential group has been lifting sands from the river for a long time. But the authorities concerned are not taking any measure to stop the activity for unknown reason, said Golam Moula, a resident of Razdharpur village.
Shahajan Mia, chairman of Nakol union, said: “We have informed matter to the a deputy commissioner of Magura and executive engineer of water development board.”
Stopping the illegal sand lifting and building an embankment around the river is a must to save the people from the erosion.
Magura Water Development Board Executive Engineer Gourpodo Shutradhar said: “We have visited the erosion prone areas.”
“But we are unable to take any step as we do not have adequate fund to do so.”
