The erosion of Teesta River has taken a serious turn in Lalmonirhat, with almost 200 houses and 400 bighas of arable lands being lost in the river within the span of two weeks.
Hundreds of houses and almost 1,500 bighas of arable lands are at risk as well, as no actions have not yet been taken. River erosion has affected a total of three kilometers along the bank of Teesta at 16 points in sadar upazila, Aditmari upazila and Hatibandha upazila.
The people of the erosion affected area compldreained that although the river erosion has become severe, the administration did not take any measures to prevent it. The officials of Water Development Board come to visit the condition and then just leave. They do not take any initiative.
They said many families have taken shelter in government roads and other people’s land after they lost their house. Many are worried about their future as their farm lands went into the gorge of river.
Shamyoli Begum, a housewife from Gobordhan village it Aditmari village said only a week ago, they had three houses on eight decimals of lands. They had three bighas of arable lands. Now everything has been lost due to river erosion. They are living under the open sky and no one has asked how they are surviving.
Shyamoli’s husband Alam Hossain said if the Water Development Board had deployed geo-bags in time, we could have been saved. Even one week ago, we were well-off. Now we are struggling with extreme poverty.
Motiar Rahman, member of Mohishkhocha union parishad in Aditmari upazila, said more than fifty houses and almost 150 bighas of arable land in Gobardhan and Garibullah village were engulfed by the river. Two hundred more houses and more than hundred bighas of arable are still at risk in that area.
He said I have contacted with Water Development Board several times. However, they are not taking any measures to urgently stop the river erosion.
River erosion has also taken a serious turn in Horinchora and Kholaighat area of the sadar upazila and in Pauabri village of Hatibandha upazila.
Moreover, the erosion of Teesta river has also affected Khuniagach, Gokunda, Chargokunda and Kalomati villages in sadar upazila, Kutirpar, Balapara and Kaliganj villages in Aditmari upazila, kaliganj village in Bhotmari upazila, Sindurna and Chargoddimari villages in Hatibandha upazila and Dohogram village in Patgram upazila.
Regarding the severe river erosion, Executive Engineer of Lalmonirhat Water Development Board said Shunil Kumar said the erosion has taken serious turn in several points of Teesta River. Emergency measures must be taken to stop the river erosion. However, no actions can be taken as there is still no fund allocated for it.
The higher officials were informed about the fund. We will start our work to prevent the river erosion immediately after we get the fund, said Executive Engineer Shunil Kumar.
Deputy Commissioner of Lalmonirhat, HM Raqib Hayder, said actions will be taken within a short time to rehabilitate the erosion affected families.
