Dredging on Mawa-Kaurakandi route proves abortive: Ferries ply 11-km stretch amid hazards

UNB, Madaripur :
Despite a dredging work done for long six months on the 13-km long Mawa-Kaurakandi route by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) to keep ferry plying smooth, about 11-km stretch of the route from Lauhajang turning point to Kathalbari ferry ghat has remained narrow still creating acute navigability problems.
Sources at the BIWTC said water level in the Padma River has fallen to its lowest during the ongoing dry season, creating hazards for movement of ferries with vehicles, including buses and goods-laden trucks, on the route which is one of the main gateways to the south-western region of the country.
Even the BIWTC informed the problem to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) attaching great importance.
The sources also said fall in the water level of the river will continue till mid-March.
As a result, nine kilometers of Mawa-Charjanajato route from Lauhajang turning point, about 2.5 kms off Mawa gaht, to Kathalbari point has become narrow at different places.
Ferry movement on the route has become risky as although two ferries ply at the same time, one cannot overtake another.
During tides, there is water flow of about nine and a half feet at the deep Lauhajang point and the nearby areas of main channel of Kathalbari ferry ghat and that depth lessens by about 2 feet during ebb.
On the other hand, water flow at the point of Kaurakandi no. 2 ferry ghat pontoon has also decreased.
Loose soil at the point adds to more danger to the ferry plying there.
BIWTC marine officers M Shahjahan and Ahmad Ali said constant decline in the water flow of the river has created a vulnerable situation from Lauhajang turning point to Kathalbari ferry ghat, posing a threat for smooth navigation.
Consequently, the masters have to run the ferries amid great caution.
Navigability problem already exists at the entry point of Kaurakandi no 2 ferry ghat pontoon as the water flow there remains naturally low this time.
Ro-Ro Ferry ‘Birsreshto Ruhul Amin’ master M Kibria and dump ferry ‘Tag Arabia’ master Abdul Hay echoed the officials.
BIWTC Manager (commerce) Sirajul Haque said ferries were plying the route amid risk because of shrinking of the channel.
So, two ferries cannot pass each other at the same time.
BIWTC assistant director SM Ali Asgar said although the channel, 500-foot upstream off Lauhajang turning point and Kathalbari ferry ghat, has become narrow, but it is not perilous.
He added there remains less water flow near Kaurakandi No 2 ferry ghat, which he termed as a natural phenomenon for some days in the river during the season.
Ekbal Hossain, BIWTA deputy assistant engineer (dredging), said dredging works using five machines, three of them on hire, completed in late January starting in August last year.
And then on January 25, BIWTC authorities conducted a hydrographic survey on the route, in which no problem was found, he added.
He also said, “Problems may arise in case of operation of ferries beyond the main channel.”