Erosion threatens Shahbajpur Gas Field

The Shahbajpur Gas Field project is only less than a kilometre from the erosion spot. Every day the mighty Meghna devours big chunks of land in the area. PHOTO: STAR

The mighty Meghna may devour the project at Hakimuddin Bazar in Borhanuddin upazila if protection work is not started right now, according to its officials.

The river is less than one kilometre from the project area now and the installations may be affected if the erosion continues at the present rate.

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In last one year, the river devoured about three-fourth of a kilometre land near the project. Five years back, the river was about seven kilometres from the project site, they said.

Laying of a 33-kilometre gas pipeline from the project to supply 0. 35 TSF gas to Bhola and drilling of the second well of the project is going on now. Costly and sophisticated equipment are at the site.

A five-member high-power team including the Director (IWOS) and Assistant Director of Water Development Board (WDB) and Chief Advisor of CEGF visited the project area on March 24.

Sources in the team said a major portion of Hakimuddin Bazaar has already been devoured by the river and the project including valuable equipment is under serious threat. River erosion is unpredictable and anything may happen during the coming monsoon, they said.

The team's visit followed submission of a Tk 40 crore scheme to Water Resources Ministry in January to build protection embankment and other work to save the project and nearby areas from erosion.

During its visit, the team also held a meeting with local lawmaker Hafiz Ibrahim. He later said the protection work should begin immediately and the government will do everything in time to protect the gas project.

Sources in the project told this correspondent that the team agreed in principle that the protection work should be given priority and work should begin immediately. The scheme has been approved by the water resources ministry and sent to the finance ministry. Steps are being taken to start the work this year, they said.

The 40 crore taka project also includes proposals for protection of other areas nearby so that the project is not threatened by Meghna erosion in near future, they said.

Water Resources Minister Maj (Rtd.) Hafijuddin Bir Bikram, also a lawmaker from Bhola, in recent remarks also emphasised implementation of the protection scheme not only for Sahbazpur Gas Field project but also for other erosion-affected areas.

Awami League leader Tofael Ahmed, a former lawmaker and minister from the area, has also demanded immediate government steps to save the gas project. Talking to this correspondent over phone, he however said the protection work should be transparent and corruption-free.

BJP Chairman Naziur Rahman Manju, also from Bhola, alleged that over Tk 150 core was misappropriated in the name of such projects in the last 30 years.