Eroding Teesta makes people homeless in Lalmonirhat

As the monsoon approaches, many homesteads, arable lands and infrastructure devoured into the River Teesta in Lalmonirhat as erosion of the riverbank took a severe turn

Many people became landless and homeless at Khuniagach village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila for the erosion and the villagers fear more erosion in the days to come.

Locals said the erosion is taking place after a flood protection embankment collapsed. The same portion of the embankment was also damaged during the flood last year but it was repaired immediate after.

The villagers alleged that the embankment collapsed again as it was not repaired properly after the flood.

Aslam Miah, a villager, said they are passing their days in the anxiety of losing their properties and croplands.

Some 5,000 geotextile bags were prepared for repairing the damaged portion of the embankment but the contractors of the Water Development Board dumped 4,000 bags in the river and the remaining 1000 bags were left abandoned on a char of the river.

Spot visit to the area found that a 40-metre stretch of the 300-metre long embankment got damaged.

Nazim Miah, a villager, said they are trying to repair the collapsed portion of the embankment by dumping sandbags on their own. “We are passing sleepless nights. More houses and croplands might be devoured in the river any time if the embankment is not properly repaired,” he added.

Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila chairman Kamruzzaman Sujon said around 150 families live in the village. He visited the affected dam area along with the executive engineer of Lamonirhat WDB.

“We urged the WDB authorities to renovate the collapsed part of the embankment immediately. The executive engineer assured us to complete the work before the monsoon sets in,” he added

Executive Engineer of WDB in Lalmonirhat Mizanur Rhaman, said, “We visited the affected areas. We sent a requisition letter to the higher authority of the department seeking allocation for the renovation of the embankment.

The renovation work will be completed on an emergency basis.”

Asked about any irregularities in the renovation of the embankment last year, the Mizanur rejected the allegations saying that the flood protection embankment can be washed away by the water flow and current in the river.

Mizanur also said the water level in the river also increased due to recent rainfall.