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Erosion of Brahmaputra, Teesta

60,000 families in Gaibandha homeless so far

From Our Correspondent
GAIBANDHA. Sept 1 1 : About 35-kilomctre areas along the western bank of the rivers Teesta and Brahmaputra in the district have been eroded in last eight years.
The erosion situation has turned alarming in four thanas, out of seven In the district.
The situation of erosion was not so even before three decades ago. The rivers, Teesta and the Brahmaputra were far away from their present course. The erosion took serious turn since 1984.
During the period. Innumerable dwelling houses, offices, institutions, business establishments and vast tract of cultivable lands had been washed away by the rivers rendering nearly 60 thousand families homeless.
Earlier, the river beds of Teesta and the Brahmaputra were deep and it could carry enough water. But due to heavy slltation, the rives gradually lost their usual depth. As a result. the channels changed their courses towards the western bank. V ‘ -J
The surging Ude of the channels directly hit the banks almost round the year. During the rainy season, the rate of erosion Increase alarmingly.
Affect of erosion
The erosion of the rivers. Teesta and Brahmaputra engulfed thousands of acres of cultivable lands, permanent structure of offices, mosques and Institutions, markets and villages rendering uncountable a large number of dwellers homeless.
The most affected thanas are : Sunderganj. Oalbandha Radar, Fulcharl and Shaghata
In Sunderganj thana. Hari-pur. Belka. Chandlpur. Srre pur. Kaposia, Torapur and Dah-abandha unions. In Oalbandha Sadar Kamariani and Oidari unions. In Fulcharl. Fazlupur. Arcndubari, Oajaria and Fule hurt unions, and In Shaghata. Jumcrbari, Hnchua and H aid la unions are the badly affected areas
Fulcharl thana Is the most affected area of the district where six unions are more or less affected by the erosion of the river Brahmaputra. Only Udakhall union of thana is still unaffected. Former Fulchasi Upazila Parishad building together with other offices are likely to be devoured within the next two or three weeks.
Present situation
With the beginning of rainy season, erosion has taken alarming turn al Fulcharl Head Quarters. Raldusbari and Kom-arjani under Sadar thana. Jumcrbari and Bharatkhalf under Shaghata thana. Belka. Haripur under Sunderganj thana.
During the fast few weeks, about 4.000 feet of Brah maputra Flood Control Embankment have been eroded. The Rasolpur Regulator on the river Ghagot at the confluence of Brahmaputra is now also under the threat of erosion.
The different offices of Fulcharl thana have been shifted to safer places. Many of the permanent buildings are being sold by auction. The main two storied building of Fulcharl thana parishad Is now only 40 feet away of erosion point.
Meanwhite. 15 buildings of different offices have been de voured by the erosion which could not be saved. Teestamuk Railway Ferry Ghat in the meantime has been shifted twice due to erosion. Fulcharl market has already been washed away by the surging water. A building of the Livestock Department could not be saved though it was sold by auction. The fate of Fulcharl Thana Complex Is also uncertain.
Step to combat erosion
Water Development Board WDB could not stop erosion after taking several measures spending huge amount of
money The board undertook an erosion protection measure at cost of Taka eight crore for setting up CB block on the bank of river and construction spur to halt the erosion at Raldusbari. The plan could not be Implemented for fund constrain.
However. WDB took an emergency plan at a cost of Taka three lakh 74 thousand to halt erosion which was of on effect. Later, the department sanctioned further Taka 17 lakh for throwing porcupine at the erosion points. The total expenditure by WDB for controlling erosion resulted no benefit
lx>cal elites, political leaders have urged the government to stop misuse of public money and take permanent measure to arrest erosion.