Erosion intensifies as Jamuna crosses danger mark near Sirajganj

Sirajganj Correspondent
As the water of Jamuna River crossed its danger level on Thursday near Sirajganj town protection embankment, the erosion caused by strong current has started devouring homesteads, croplands and other installations one after another in five upazilas of Sirajganj district leaving many residents homeless.
The erosion has taken serious turn at Jalalpur, Panchil, Brahmangram, Arkandi, Monakosa, Syedpur and Veka area in Shahzadpur upazila. A two-storied building, owned by Kobad Master at Panchil village in Shahzadpur upazila devoured by the river erosion on Tuesday last making him distressed. Besides, erosion has increased in several other places of Kazipur, Sirajganjsadar, Belkuchi and Chowhal iupazila of the district.
Many people have shifted their homesteads to safer places, while many are passing their days and nights amid concern over erosion. Locals complained that, illegal lifting of sands by the influential quarters from riverbed throughout the year and random movement of bulkheads are the main reasons behind such furiousness along the river bank.
Though, several initiatives were taken by Water Development Board (WDB) to resist the river erosion at different vulnerable places, locals termed the works just eye-wash to the people. The WDB did not complete any work in time sans expanding working deadline and fund allocation.
A project involving at Tk. 647croe was taken several years ago (June, 2021) with the aim to construct a riverbank protection dam for about 6.5 km area from Jalalpur to Panchil in Shahzadpur upazila. But, the project has not yet been completed except expanding deadline by presenting several excuses like ‘Corona Pandemic and Fund Crisis’.
Practically, bulk portion of the sanctioned money were withdrawn by the concerned contractors in collaboration with some unscrupulous officials of the WDB. Though, the project has progressed nearing to 50 percent in the last four years, the fate of rest portion is still uncertain as it is not possible to implement rest 50 percent of the project work by only a year, insiders said.
Seeking anonymity, an official of the WDB told The New Nation that, “We could not complete the project work scheduled to finish by June last due to Corona Pandemic and Fund crisis. We however, are trying to complete the work by next June with one more year expansion. Now, we have adequate fund. Besides, we are trying to protect the vulnerable area especially from Jalalpur to Panchil by lying Geotube (Guotextile tube) along the erosion affected bank. But the effort is going in vain due to strong current of the river as the Jamuna keeps swelling for the last few days with the onrush of water from upstream.”
Earlier in a meeting, Chayon Islam, Parliament Member for Sirajganj-6 constituency (Shahzadpur) assured preventive measures will be taken by setting up Geotextile tube along the riverbank the protect the affected people.