11 river routes in southern dists face closure

A vessel stranded on the Kirtonkhola after it got stuck up in a shallow water shoal. The photo was taken on Sunday. PHOTO: STAR

Many routes to Dhaka, Khulna, Chittagong, Bhola and Patuakhali are being clogged by emerging shoals at numerous points and deposit of silt.

At many points, the water depth is only three to six feet now. Some of the routes will have to be abandoned soon unless dredged, they said.

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Waterways in Barisal division have already lost navigability at eleven points and vessels plying the routes are often stranded for hours, waiting for high tide.

The Kirtonkhola river on which Barisal river port stands, Ganeshpura river near Char Mohima in Sreepur Mehendiganj, Lohalia river near Patuakhali port, Bukhainagor river crossing channel, Badartuni-Hizla-Muladi channel, Maskata-Meherndiganj channel, Char Kasrupi and Chandra Mohan channel of Bhola are rapidly losing navigability threatening closure of traffic.

Md. Kabir, who operates passenger launch Dwipraj in Barisal-Dhaka-Barisal route said new shoals have emerged in the Kirtonkhola river near Saistabad, 10 kilometers from Barisal river port. Hundreds of vessels have to cross this channel every day on way to Dhaka, Khulna, and Chittagong. The water depth at Saistabad is only six feet now during low tide. Vessels are often stranded and have to wait for hours for high tide. In the same route, a one-kilometre-long shoal has emerged near Hizla on Lata river, he said.

Abdul Barek, who plies BIWTC vessel MV Alauddin on Barisal-Chittagong route said the journey is regularly delayed by 4 to 6 hours due to newly emerged shoals. The route is risky at the Daulat Khan point in Meghna and at Hizla, and Kirtonkhola points in Barisal.

The Barisal-Bhola route faces closure as the depth of water is only about three feet in Shaheberhat channel, connecting Kirtonkhola river in Barisal and Kalabador river in Bhola. This is an important channel as it links Barisal with eastern parts of the country.

Vessels have to wait for high tide to cross the channel.

Rabin Das of MV Soheli plying Barisal-Bhola-Barguna-Patuakhali routes said numerous shoals have emerged in the Bishkhali river in Patharghata, Tentulia in Kathalia, Suganda in Betagi, and Shandhaya river in Uzirpur upazila, obstructing navigation.

BIWTA sources said the Kirtonkhola, Lohalia, Bishkhali, Paira, Nishinda, Kalabadar, Arial Kha, Tentulia, Ganeshpura, Sugandha and Shandhaya rivers in Barisal region should be dredged immediately.

Shahjal Huq, Deputy Director, River Conservancy and base commander of salvage vessel Hamza said dredging of rivers near Barisal and Patuakhali ports, Char Maheshpura, Shaheberhat, Sayestabad, Hizla,

Muladi, Barguna channel and Ganeshpura river should be taken up on priority basis.

He said 'first class' vessels (big ones) need at least 14 feet water depth and 'second class' (smaller) eight feet to ply.

Sources said BIWTC is dredging the Kirtonkhola at only one point near Sayestabad but the work is often disrupted due to shortage of funds.

When contacted, BIWTA manager in Barisal said dredging is done routinely every year before or after the dry season but it s affected by shortage of fund and dredgers.