A three-kilometer section of the WAPDA embankment of Water Development Board in Jaintapur upazila of Sylhet is at extreme risk due to sand extraction. Over a hundred thousand people living in that area are passing their days in fear as a result.
The sand is being extracted from outside the leased area boundary of Borogan River and within 180 feet area adjacent to the embankment. Although there is permission to extract and sell sand from government land in the Borogang area, the Water Development Board has imposed a ban on all sand extraction within 180 feet of the embankment to ensure its safety.
When this correspondent visited the area, it was seen that workers are extracting sand across a 3-kilometer area from the ferry terminal near the Borogang Bridge in Purbo Laxmiprasad village of Nijpat Union. One kilometer section has collapsed due to sand extraction along the embankment.
The locals said under the Sari-Gowain Embankment Project by the Water Development Board, a 17-kilometer embankment was constructed along the Borogang and Sari rivers in 1977. This embankment was built to protect the homes and agricultural lands of the people living in 7 wards of Nijpat Union and Jaintapur Union from floods caused by upstream rush.
However, a massive breach occurred 200 meters west and 50 yards east of the ferry terminal bridge during the devastating floods of 1988. The homes of the people living in the area were severely damaged, and hundreds of livestock were lost.
Later, the damaged section from the flood was repaired in 1990. A one km vulnerable stretch of the embankment in Purbo Laxmiprasad village was rebuilt with large boulder stones mixed with soil to strengthen and stabilize the embankment.
For the past 8 to 10 years, a vested quarter among the Borogang sand traders, is extracting sand from within 180 feet area adjacent to the embankment in the Purbo Laxmiprasad area to make extra profit. As a result, the soil around a 1-kilometer section of the embankment has eroded, causing the sturdy stone barrier to begin collapsing. Moreover, workers are secretly stealing the stones from the embankment at night and transporting them by boat.
Local resident Abul Hasnat said that some traders in the Borogang area are stealing sand and stones from within 180 feet of the embankment area in hopes of making higher profits. Currently, a large portion of about 1 kilometer of the embankment in Purbo Laxmiprasad village has collapsed. Every year, the amount of erosion increases due to the mountain torrents from the Sari-Gowain River. Thousands of families in the embankment area are living in extreme fear.
Another resident Abdul Hannan said a memorandum was submitted to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, along with signatures from the people of Purbo Laxmiprasad village and neighboring villages, demanding a permanent solution.
A few days ago, workers attempted to extract sand from the embankment area in Purbo Laxmiprasad village. However, the village residents resisted them and they got into a heated argument. As tensions escalated between both parties, local elders intervened to de-escalate the situation. However, the area remains tense at present.
When Md Hasan Parves Riadh, Sub-Assistant Engineer of Jaintapur Water Development Board office, was called on his phone regarding the matter, he said he is on leave. He will take necessary actions if he receives any complaints.
Jiantapur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Umme Salik Rimya said a memorandum has been submitted to her office on behalf of the representatives of Purbo Laxmiprasad village and the neighboring areas. The Sub-Assistant Engineer of the Upazila Water Development Board was instructed to visit the area. Actions will be taken after that, said the UNO.
