Twofold erosion in Padma and Madhumati rivers due to rising water levels is threatening several areas of Rajbari district.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has taken initiatives to prevent erosion by placing geo bags on embankments, however, it is not sustainable as a long-term measure.
Erosion has become a common yearly occurrence in the area during monsoon. Locals expect a permanent embankment to prevent the houses, lands and other institutions from being devoured by the rivers.
According to BWDB Rajbari, the Padma River flows for 56.6 km through Rajbari Sadar, Pangsha, Kalukhali and Goalanda upazilas. And on the other side of the district, Madhumati flows for 38 km beside Baliakandi, Pangsha and Kalukhali upazilas.
From 2017 to 2022, a permanent embankment of plain cement concrete (PCC) blocks have been constructed in an area of seven km at a cost of Tk 375.64 crore on one side of the district.
Currently, work is going on in a limited scope in the Char Silimpur and Sonakandar areas of Rajbari Sadar Upazila covering a 1,512-metre area under the revenue budget.
During the last monsoon, geo bags were placed in 61 packages to prevent erosion. This year too, similar initiatives are to be taken. Erosion prevention work has been approved in Agpotra area of Madhumati River Janjal union of Baliakandi upazila.
However, the majority of the riverbanks in the district remain unprotected.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh University of Engineering (BUET) has recently given a concession to the Daulatdia-Paturia Ghat modernisation and erosion prevention project after three years.
Work will be done on a four km area from Daulatdia No-7 ferry ghat on the Daulatdia side of the river to Debgram via Launchghat and two km at Paturia Ghat in Manikganj.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has designed high-water, mid-water and low-water level ghats in each pontoon of Daulatdia and Paturia ghats.
However, the estimated budget, tender publication and project completion dates have yet to be fixed. BWDB and BIWTA both work on erosion prevention in the Daulatdia ferry ghat area of Goalanda upazila.
According to BIWTA’s temporary office in Daulatdia, during the last monsoon season, the organisation worked to put at least 30,000 geo bags in 4 packages to prevent erosion.
Due to rising water levels of Padma and Madhumati rivers, erosion has happened in Bahadurpur and Habaspur of Pangsha upazila, Kalikapur of Kalukhali upazila, Charrajpur of Ratandia union, Laskardia, Narayanpur, Kalastala area of Cantonment, Mijanpur, Chandani and Barat of Rajbari Sadar upazila, Chhota Bhakla, Debgram, Daulatdia Ghat, Daulatdia Lalu Mandal Para and Sahajuddin Mandal Para of Goalanda upazila.
Erosion has also occurred in Ghatra of Kalukhali, Morabila of Baliakandi, Jamsapur, Agpotra area by the Madhumati river.
While erosion is more severe in some areas than others, locals are worried things may take a turn for the worse on the banks of both rivers. Geo bags are being placed to prevent erosion in Daulatdia Lalu Mandalpara area.
Abzal Hossain Bepari of Lalu Mandalpara said, “I make a living by transporting people and goods across the river on my boat. I used to live in Lalu Mandalpara but my house was eroded.”
“Now the river is threatening my current house in Notunpara. I have nowhere else left to go. The local authorities and public representatives come to visit the area sometimes and give us empty promises,” he added.
Mujibar Mandal of Sahajuddin Mandalpara said, “If the geo bags were dropped during the dry season, it would have worked better. The bags placed now will just be taken away by the river currents. Now only God can save us.”
“I can hardly sleep at night during monsoon. We live in constant fear of our houses being devoured by the river. Authorities talk about permanent embankment but they are nothing but empty words,” said Shahjahan Mandal of Launch Ghat area.
Janjal union parishad’s Chairman Kallol Kumar Basu said Madhumati River takes chunks of land from Janjal and Narua unions.
“This year too, with the increase in water, erosion has occurred in some areas. Erosion prevention work is supposed to be done in Akhpotra area but it has not started yet. I have spoken to BWDB officials to start work soon,” he said.
Mehdi Hashina Parveen Nilufa, chairman of Ratandia union, said the construction of a ring embankment is required to prevent rapid erosion in the area.
BIWTA Daulatdia office Assistant Engineer Md Shahidul Islam said authorities work every year to prevent damage in the ghat area.
“There is some preparation to prevent erosion this season also. Besides, two more projects have been requested. The process is ongoing,” he said.
Abdullah Al-Amin, an executive engineer of Rajbari BWDB, said “We have some preparations to prevent erosion on an emergency basis. We are trying our best. Last year also we worked day and night to prevent erosion.” He added that a list of the affected areas has been prepared and sent for urgent work.
