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Siltation disrupts ferry services at Aricha ghat

By Naimul Haq
Ferry services from Aricha ghat have been seriously dis-| rupted as heavy deposition of silts has made the ferry channels to Natakhola and Daulat-dia ghats risky, sources In the BIWTC and BIwTA said
In addition to disruption in ferry services, two of the five ghats at Aricha and one out of the three ghats at Daulatdia have been abandoned for the time being as silts blocked tile channel in front of those mak Ing navigation highly risky Ferry operation from ghats number 4 and 5 at Aricha was suspended on Sunday, leaving three ghats to handle more than 3000 vehicles a day
Officials predict if the profess of siltation continues there may be further disruption
in ferry services creating heavy traffic congestion at all the three ferry ghats.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) suspended ferry services in Bhuyapur-SiraiganJ route on Saturday at 8pm due to lack of the minimum required depth of water — six feet. All vehicles using the route have been diverted to Aricha and Natakhola ferry ghats putting additional burden on those. All the five ferry vessels operating In that route were ordered to Join the fleet of 21 ferries now operating from Aricha.
About 300 vehicles, mostly carrying cargo cross the Jamuna river through Bhuyapur a day to reach various destinations in the northern districts via Sirajganj.
According to a high official of BIWTC. ferry services in Aricha-Daulatlda and Aricha-Natakhola routes have been disrupted as the ferries were frequently hitting the river bed due to lack of required depth of water. "Twelve ferries ran aground in the last seven days. Ferries could not be operated until the impaired ferries were salvaged from the single route or one-way channel linking Daulatdla and Aricha." the of ficial said.
Another official said. The waiting loaded ferries ready at the gnats, in the meantime, have to wait further as salvage operation is in progress. The 120 metre wide one-way ferry channel is facing the same problem almost everyday. Ferries can no longer maintain the schedule of arrival and departure. A loaded ferry may have to wait as long as two hours, depending on the clearance from engineering division of BIWTA which is responsible for keeping the ferry channels navigable by way of dredging."
On the other hand, a top BIWTC official said, "Dredging was not being done properly. If the channels are kept operational. there should be no delay in ferry operation. But the ferries were occasionally hitting the river bed. causing severe dislocation in road communi -'cation between the capital and the 32 northern and southern districts. Besides, due to such kind of risk, ferries cannot move at the speed. These are Ssed to further delaying g and unloading of vehicles at the ghats."
When contacted an engineer of dredging unit of BIWTA said. The 4000 metre by 120 metre
one-way channel, was opened to ferries on Friday. Siltation was seriously disrupting ferry services, but during this pre-dry season, difficulties in navigation are likely?
Explaining the dredging operation. he said, "We have five out of seven dredgers in the country, working in Aricha route alone. Dredging is not always possible whenever we wish. A dredger can operate with a maximum river current of 1.6 knots, while in most cases we have to risk dredging with more than the limit. The river current, as recorded on October 5 and 8. was 2.56 and 3.3 knots respectively."
He further said the river bed levels of Padma and Jamuna, which the ferries have to cross, are not stable. You cannot predict where would siltation take place. Sedimentation changes from day to day. During this dry season, sedimentation would greatly affect ferry services. We have cautioned the ferry operators about the dangers. Despite that, we have received a few allegations that ferries moved away from the 120 metre wide channel, specially at night, avoiding warnings."
Meanwhile. BIWTC control room sources said at 6 pm yesterday that 972 vehicles were waiting at Aricha to be ferried to Natakhola and Daulatdla. Besides. 435 and 473 vehicles, mostly trucks carrying perishables, were waiting at Natakhola and Daulatdla respectively to be ferried to Aricha.
BIWTC Aricha office when contacted over telephone last night said that situation at the ghats so far was under control could worsen if vehicles continued to arrive at the present rate.