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Erosion threatens Sariakandi embankment

15 June 2009, 18:00 PM

NATIONAL

Hasibur Rahman Bilu, back from Sariakandi

With the onset of rains, turbulent Jamuna devouring lands at Titporol Uttarpara in Sariakandi upazila of Bogra.Photo: STAR

Erosion by the Jamuna River has turned serious in some areas including Kurnibari, Kutubpur, Titporal and Kamalpur villages on the west bank of the river in Sariakandi upazila of Bogra district. “Erosion has turned serious in 2.50 km on the right [west] side of the river from Kutubpur to Nijkarnibari and 1.50 km from Antorpara to Manurpara village,” said AKM Momtaz Uddin, executive engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB) in Bogra. The WDB has taken temporary protection measures in some areas including Titporol village, he said. WDB Bogra office sources said about six kilometre area including some points of the main embankment at Talukderpara on the west side of the river is now in a vulnerable condition. WDB sub-divisional engineer in Sariakandi, KM Jahurul Haque said, “Erosion threatens Kurnibari village within 60m from the main embankment. We have taken some protective measures only in 1750m area on the west side of the river out of a total 21 km within our jurisdiction. It is feared that the main embankment will be eroded if we fail to prevent river erosion at Kurnibari village.” “The Bogra district Water Development Board started protection works on the right side riverbank at a cost of Tk 37 crore for this year. To protect the 45 km stretch of area on the right [west] side of the Jamuna bank from Sonatola to Dhunat upazila, the department needs at least Tk 43 crore more,” said WDB Executive Engineer Momtaz Uddin. “I lost one acre of cultivable land in Titporal Uttorpara area this year due to serious river erosion. I also lost five acres of cultivable land during the last three years,” said freedom fighter Dr MA Quddus. “At least 50 people lost their houses at Manurpara village under Sariakandi upazila due to serious river erosion during couple of weeks. I shifted my house five times during the last 10 years due to river erosion,” said Amzad Hossain, another local.