Erosion leaves hundreds homeless in Netrakona

Erosion by Someshwary has devoured vast areas of Shibganj village in Durgapur upazila of Netrakona. PHOTO: STAR

At least 200 dwelling houses have been devoured by the river in last one week rendering more than 1,500 people homeless. The erosion victims have taken shelter in the nearby flood shelter.

During a visit to the area, this correspondent found that people from over 100 houses have shifted to safer places.

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The badly affected areas are KhamarKhali, Shibgonj and Birishiri.

Local people have dumped sand, bamboo and timber to protect the area, but the strong current of the river foiled their bid.

Khamarkhali bazaar was once a big village market in the upazila. But the river has devoured two thirds of it.

Over 500 families used to live at village Shibganj five years ago. But the river engulfed 800 acres of land leaving 350 families landless and homeless.

When contacted with the executive engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Netrakona, Mohammed Alauddin said that they had already started a project titled, 'Durgapur Town Protection Embankment.'

River erosion has turned into a common phenomenon in the area for years together, but the government is yet to take any tangible measure to halt it, local people complained.