MADARIPUR, Mar 2: Heavy silt in the rivers across the district and in neighbouring Shariatpur have seriously been hampering the movement of vessels, reports UNB.

Sources said the situation this year was particularly critical after the prolonged flood last year as the river beds were raised substantially by the silt carried with the flood water.

Innumerable shoals are emerging in the rivers Padma. Aryal Khan. Kumar. Kirti-nasha. and Palardi causing serious difficulties in the plying of launches, steamers and trawlers. At some points, even the country boats are facing problem due to the sharp fall in water level.

The affected river routes include Madaripur-Dhaka. Madaripur-Chandpur and Madaripur-Shariatpur.

With the drying up of the mouths of Piajkhali and Tal-tala canals, the launches from here to Dhaka have to ply via Chandpur which add 50 extra miles to the journey.

'The passengers as well as the transport owners have to spend more money for the journey." said the source adding that it took five more hours to reach the capital from the district headquarters.

Ferry movement at Maoa, Sheikhpur and Kazirtek ferry ghats is also being hampered due to this reason, said the sources adding that sometimes the vehicles wait for the high tide for crossing the river.

The sources feared that the routes might be closed if necessary measures including dredging could not be taken on emergency basis.

The river routes play a very important role in the trade and business of the region and the silt in the rivers might adversely affect agriculture, in-

dustrial growth and trade of the two districts.

Tile business activities at the important river port of Char-muguria have reduced substantially due to accumulation of silt in the river Aryal Khan. A similar situation has been prevailing at Rajoir and Takerhat ports.

Human habitation is growing on the shoals in different parts of the district.

The sources said that the concerned authorities were not taking any measure for necessary dredging of the rivers and the situation this year was particularly bad following the flood.

A B1WTC source said that the river Padma is the source of almost all the rivers in the two districts and accumulation of silt, at the mouths has been hampering the flow particularly during the dry season. The small rivers are being turned into shoal lands as there is no dredging at these points for long.