River erosion wreaks havoc in Netrakona

Villagers dismantling a house at Shibganj bazaar in Durgapur upazila, Netrakona where river erosion has taken an alarming turn in recent days. PHOTO: STAR

About 300 families became homeless and 700 acres of land were washed away by the rivers Sumeshwary, Kongsha and Mogra in Durgapur, Barhatta and Atpara upazilas.

A vast tract of land in Sunajur, Najirganj bazaar, Gonjar bazaar, Modhukhali, Norbatkhila and Deoshree of Atpara upazila and Khamarkhali bazaar, Shibganj bazaar, Dakumara in Durgapur upazila went into the gorge of rivers.

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Local people dumped sandbags, bamboo and timber to protect the area from erosion. But all of their attempts went in vain due to strong current of rivers.

Sadhon Sarker, 45, of village Dakumara in Durgapur upazila told this correspondent the Sumeshwary devoured his house and cropland turning him a beggar. Homeless Sadhon has migrated to the neighbouring Ranikong village.

Erosion made a well-off farmer, Iman Ali, 42, of village Fakirer bazaar in Barhatta upazila into a petty boatman. Nur Hossain Fakir, 62, of village Sunajur in Atpara upazila also embraced the same fate. His croplands have gone in the bed of the Mogra although his thatched house still stands erect.

In 1995, a five kilometre dam was constructed to protect Durgapur municipality from the erosion of the hilly river of Sumeshwary. But due to faulty site selection, the dam did not work properly.

Local people have urged the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to halt river erosion on emergency basis.