Minister's Warning Goes Unheeded

No steps yet to stop sand lifting near embankment

14 July 2009, 17:00 PM

Golam Mostafa Jibon, Sirajganj

A dredger extracting sand from Jamuna riverbed only half kilometre from Sirajganj town protection embankment, above, and traders loading a truck with sand lifted from the river yesterday. The communications minister on Sunday blamed mindless sand lifting for Friday's embankment collapse.Photo: STAR

Earth and sand lifting by dredger from the Jamuna riverbed close to Sirajganj town protection embankment has continued unabated, threatening further erosion in the embankment that saw breach in about 200-metre area last Friday. Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain during his visit to the area on Sunday said unplanned lifting of earth and sand is one of the main causes of the embankment collapse. But, the authorities concerned are yet to take any step to stop the illegal act. The water resources ministry on Monday formed a six-member probe committee to find the reasons behind the breach in Sirajganj embankment. The committee was instructed to submit report within 10 working days. During a visit to the Motishaheber Ghat area yesterday, this correspondent found that workers of a few sand traders led by a local municipality councillor were using a dredger to lift sand and earth from Jamuna River around half a kilometre from the embankment. The lifted sand is piled on the riverbank and then sold to local customers who supply it by truck to different areas, several labourers said. A truckload of sand sells at Tk 700-Tk 900. Earlier on several occasions, locals submitted several written complaints to the deputy commissioner and executive engineer of WDB demanding steps to stop the unplanned sand lifting, but to no effect. A sand lifter told this correspondent that they are lifting sand after taking permission from the local land office. But he could not show any relevant papers in this regard. Locals said sand lifting is responsible for serious erosion in the adjacent areas where many homesteads and croplands went into the river. WDB Executive Engineer Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan, on the other hand, said, “The sand is lifted from the midpoint of the river. So, there is no risk of erosion in the town protection embankment or other establishments.” When contacted, district administration officials said they are still unaware about sand lifting from the riverbed near the embankment.