River Erosion
Tagore’s historic Kuthibari is threatened by river erosion, locals scream for help
Erosion in River Padma during the peak monsoon has threatened the Kuthibari, the historic country house of Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore, at Shelaidah in Kushtia district.
The erosion along the river’s bank near Kuthibari and its adjacent area has taken a serious turn and the residents of the area are passing days in fear of losing their land and homes to the mighty Padma.
Read:Riverbank erosion leaves Gashial residents on the edge
Earlier, the government had taken steps to protect the Kuthibari from river erosion in 2018 by building an embankment but it did little to help the villagers.
According to the Kushtia Water Development Board, the authorities concerned have built a 3,720 meter flood protection dam, involving Tk 167 crore in the fiscal year 2016-2018. Of the total dam, 2,720 meter built in Sultanpur part of Koya union while the remaining 1000 meter in Shelaidah portion.
The authorities named the project as ‘Kuthibari protection dam’.
Read Padma erosion threatens Daulatdia Ferry Terminal
Local people alleged that the authorities concerned have built the dam excluding the 1.5 kilometre area of Kuthibari under the project. The project stretching from Shelaidah Kuthibari and adjacent areas remains in the paper but actually no dam has been built on the main portion of the Kuthibari.
Untimely river erosion causes panic in Sirajganj
Untimely river erosion, far in advance of the monsoon season, has increased the suffering of local residents in the south bank of the Jamuna river, in Enayetpur upazila of Sirajganj.
Many houses in the area have been washed away by the river. The victims of this demolition are now living a dreadful life. River erosion is a common scenario in this area.
Read Dhaleshwari erosion takes serious turn in Keraniganj
Around 20,000 houses have been washed away by the river so far, leaving many families stranded.
Local representatives including MPs and ministers have visited the site at least five times in the last four years to see the plight. Every time, they have given various promises to the affected people which includes building a permanent protection dam.
Also read: Riverbank erosion displacees await rehabilitation
A project worth Tk 600 crore for building a dam that stretches across 6.5 km was submitted to the relevant ministry almost 4 years ago. But no updates on the project have been received ever since.
State Minister for Water Resources Ministry Zahid Faruk has visited the site recently and promised to approve the project as soon as possible.
However, the recent river erosion, so advanced of the monsoon season, instilled a sense of fear among the local residents. They have set up bamboo fences to prevent erosion on their own initiative.
Also read: River rage: Unabated erosion gives villagers sleepless nights
The erosion stretched from Brahman village to Hat Pachil area of the upazila.
Nasir Uddin, the sub-divisional engineer of the local water development board, said a letter has been sent to the higher authorities to take necessary steps in preventing untimely erosion.
Besides, the project for construction of a permanent dam has not been approved yet, he added.
Read Padma erosion threatens Daulatdia Ferry Terminal
Padma erosion threatens Daulatdia Ferry Terminal
Rapid decline in the water level, strong current and torrential rainfall in the last few days have put the Daulatdia Ferry Terminal area at high risk of erosion which could potentially force partial shutdown of the key terminal.
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