Erosion by three rivers to displace 22,000 this year

23 July 2009, 17:00 PM

Hasibur Rahman Bilu, Bogra

About 21,750 people of several riverbank areas are likely be landless and homeless as erosions by the Jamuna, Padma and Ganges rivers will devour 2,178 hectares of land in 17 districts of the country this year. “Prediction of River Bank Erosion along the Jamuna, the Ganges and the Padma Rivers in 2009,” a joint publication of Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Service (CEGIS) and Bangladesh Water Development Board, reveals the matter as CEGIS has predicted it on the basis of satellite images. About 10,000 people will become landless and homeless due to erosion on the both banks of 220 kilometre long Jamuna River, goes the prediction. Erosion by the Ganges and the Padma rivers would render 7,250 and 4,500 people landless and homeless this year in Bangladesh, says the report. Meanwhile large masses of land along riverbanks in different districts have been eroded. Even breaches have developed in riverbank protection structures like Sirajganj Town Protection Embankment. At least 535 metre effective embankments of several rivers have become vulnerable, according to the CEGIS report. It predicts that river erosion will damage about 5.8 km roads including 605 metre district roads. CEGIC sources predict that 900 metre upazila roads along with four village markets are likely to be eroded by Padma and Jamuna rivers. Two health centres and 23 educational institutions are vulnerable on the both sides of the river Jamuna, Padma and Ganges. The highest 364 hectares of land are likely to be eroded by Padma River in Shariatpur district. CEGIS identified 24 locations as vulnerable in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Bogra, Sirajganj, Pabna, Jamalpur, Tangail and Manikganj districts on both sides of Jamuna River. The 11 areas in Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Kushtia, Pabna and Rajbari districts have been identified as vulnerable on both sides of the River Ganges. About 805 hectares of land including settlements on both sides of the river are likely to be eroded this year. According to the CEGIS report, Padma River may erode five areas of Faridpur, Shariatpur, Munshiganj and Dhaka districts. At least 2,447 people have lost their houses due to river erosion in several upazilas of Kurigram district during last one month, government and BWDB sources said. Around 300 families have become shelterless due to the erosion by the Jamuna River at Ratonpur village under Fulchhari upazila in Gaibandha district, local sources said. Some 1000 people have shifted from Karnibari and Katubpur unions under Sariakandi upazila of Bogra district due to breach on the west side embankment of Jamuna River last month.