Tk 226cr project work starts to save 50 villages from Padma erosion

Authorities yesterday started work under a Tk 226 crore project to protect 50 villages on the west bank of the Padma River in Ishwardi upazila under Pabna district and Lalpur upazila under Natore district.

The protection work under the supervision of water resources ministry will cover Komorpur to Shara-Jhaudia point of the Padma in Ishwardi upazila and Tilakpur to Gouripur point of Lalpur upazila, sources said.

After inaugurating the work yesterday, Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif Dilu said the protection work will save erosion hit Shara union and the adjoining areas on the west bank of the river.  

The mighty river devoured more than 500 dwelling houses and thousands of acres of cultivable land in Arambaria village within two years, said sources at Shara union parishad.

A primary school, a high school, mosques, temples, and markets in the area also went into the riverbed in last few years.

On several occasions, locals demonstrated demanding measures to protect them from continuous erosion by the Padma.

Earlier the Executive Committee for National Economic Council approved a Tk 865.29 crore mega project comprising works under 20 groups for protection of dwellings, farmlands and institutions on the Padma in different districts, said sources of Water Development Board.

Works of seven groups are going on now, they said.