Home ›› 21 Jan 2023 ›› Nation
For years, the Sandha River and Gabkhan Channel in Pirojpur has been steadily eating away parts of Kawkhali upazila without any effective preventive measures in place.
Locals say that the rate of erosion has increased in recent times and unless authorities take steps immediately, the Amarjuri union of the upazila will be in grave danger.
The erosion, on both sides of the river, has been so intense for the last two years, that authorities had to relocate the Amrajuri ferry ghat 20 times in the last two years. As things stand now, it might need to be relocated again soon.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) had placed geo bags along the river banks to stop erosion. But the river’s strong currents washed away the deterrents leaving the banks vulnerable.
As a result, the regional ferry ghat and connecting roads are in constant danger of being eaten up by the river. The local markets, several institutions, and houses are also on the cusp of erosion.
According to local sources, various buildings including Amrajuri Circle Office (Revenue), Ashoa Government Primary School, roads, markets and other establishments have already disappeared due to erosion.
Besides, river erosion also ate up about a five km area of Kawkhali-Jhalakathi road. More than 25 villages including Sonakur, Sayna, Raghunathpur, Hogla, Betka, Rongakathi and Gandharva villages of the upazila are facing erosion.
The locals demanded a permanent embankment to prevent erosion.
A local, Iqbal Hossain, said at least 25 shops in the main market of the union have been eroded away by the river in the last few years. “The river has also devoured hundreds of houses and now several other structures including schools, houses, and mosques are also at risk. If the authorities do not take any immediate initiative to stop it now, there will be even more severe damage,” he said.
Khatib Maulana Gazi Anwar Hossain of Amrajuri Ferryghat Mosque said erosion has begun again after the geo bags were washed away. “People’s lives and livelihoods are at risk here. The locals are justifiably worried.”
Hundreds of vehicles from South and South-West regions including Swarupkathi, Banaripara, and Barishal travel to Dhaka and other districts via Amrajuri Ferryghat. However, the terminal has been relocated several times in the last few years due to erosion.
Md Shah Alam, the supervisor of the terminal, said there has been continuous erosion in Kawkhali’s part of the Sandha River in the last decade. “Recently the intensity of the erosion has increased. If the administration does not take initiative to construct a proper embankment soon, the ferry ghat might erode.”
Convener of Kawkhali Development Council Abdul Latif Khosru said immediate measures should be taken to stop the erosion or the township of Amrajuri is at risk of getting devoured by the river.
Amrajuri Ferryghat Bazar Management Committee President Kayes Howladar said geo bags are not a permanent solution to stop erosion due to the strong currents of the river.
“If a proper embankment is not constructed, hundreds of businesses in the market, the ferry wharf, schools, mosques and hundreds of infrastructures will get eroded in the river. The Pirojpur-Barishal regional link road via Kawkhali will also get washed away by the currents.”
Amrajuri UP Chairman Sheikh Samsuddoha Chan said no effective measures have been taken to prevent erosion in the area in the last few decades.
“Both Sandha River and Gabkhan Channel have been slowly chipping away at Kawkhali for a long time. Urgent measures to prevent erosion should be taken to save the shops, houses and farmlands.”
Meanwhile, the Government Food Warehouse of Kawkhali upazila is facing the threat of erosion. The boundary wall of the riverside food warehouse has already eroded into the river.
The two storage buildings out of five built during the British period are only 10 to 12 feet away from the Sandha river. The other three are also close by. As the river has already devoured the boundary walls, the officials are worried about the buildings also getting eroded away at any moment.
Kawkhali Upazila Food Controller Md Mehedi Hasan said a team from the district office visited the site when the higher authorities were informed about the erosion. He added that measures to prevent erosion and development work of the food warehouse infrastructure is expected to begin soon.
Kawkhali Upazila Parishad Chairman Abu Saeed Miah said the residents of Amrajuri union are constantly facing erosion on both ends of the Sandha River and the Gabkhan Channel
“Placing geo bags cannot prevent erosion this time around as the currents are too strong. A proper embankment of cement blocks needs to be constructed to protect the locale,” he said, adding that the local MP and higher authorities of BWDB have been informed of the matter.
According to the Executive Engineer of BWDB Pirojpur Mahbube Moula Md Mehedy Hasan, the riverside area of Amrajuri union has been facing erosion since 2021. Geo bags were placed to protect the bank from eroding away, however, the strong currents washed them away.
“The Development Project Proposal (DPP) has been sent to the related Ministry for a more permanent solution to prevent river erosion in the union. We expect the proposal will be approved soon,” he said.
