Navaganga river has started breaking Narail. Several villages of Narail's Kalia upazila have been hit by the severe erosion of Navganga river, including roads, markets, houses, mosques and cemeteries of hundreds of families. In the last 15 days of continuous erosion, settlements, crop lands, plants and other structures have gone under the river. Kalia Upazila important Baripara Mahajan Road, residential houses, markets and other important structures are in danger of collapse. Residents are in panic. However, some relief has returned to the area with the quick action of the Water Development Board.
River erosion is a familiar issue to thousands of residents of various unions along the banks of the Kalia Upazila. Every year during the monsoon season, houses are subjected to severe erosion. This year was no exception. Various structures along the river banks are moving under the river after several weeks of severe erosion.
Going to spot,it was seen that severe erosion of Navganga river has started in Kanchanpur area of Kalia upazila for several weeks. Houses, trees and various buildings have gone under the river. Baripara Mahajan Road, houses, graveyards, mosques, paved roads and other important structures are at risk of collapse. If this road disappears into the river, thousands of acres of cropland will be submerged and hundreds of fish gher will be washed away. Alek Sheikh, a resident of Kanchanpur area, said that all our houses have gone to the river. Like our head, this house was just gone. Now I am living a very difficult life with my sons and daughters.
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Ashraf Muktar, a resident of the same village, said, "We are going through very anxious days. If our road breaks, then all the other houses, including our house, will go into the river." Along with that, all the crop lands along with the ponds in our area will go to the river. Almost everyone in our area earns their livelihood by doing this farming.Phuli Bibi, who lost her homestead in the river, said, "My house has gone into the river, now I have lost my homestead and I am becoming hopeless. I can't understand where to stay and what to do. Apart from this house, I don't have any other place or land where I can get a little space. Where will I live with my children now? I have no place to stay.
Distraught after losing his homestead, Tabibur Sheikh said emotionally, I built the house with great difficulty and I had nothing left. I don't know where I will stay with my family now.
Hasi Begum, who took shelter on the way, broke down in tears after losing her vegetable field and homestead in the courtyard. She said, Now I have no place to take refuge except the road, no sleep at night, no proper food, how I am passing the day and night, no one knows except Allah. Early attempts were made to prevent river erosion by dropping geo bags on an emergency basis in the past to prevent erosion in the affected areas. Residents on the banks of the river have demanded the construction of permanent dams on an urgent basis in the damaged areas. Officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board visited the site after receiving the news of the river breach. Necessary measures have been taken for quick action. Narail Water Development Board Executive Engineer Ujjal Kumar Sen said, I have visited the site. Urgent measures are being taken to prevent the collapse on the orders of higher authorities. Hope to start working soon.
Bidyut Kumar Saha, Additional Chief Engineer of Khulna Division of Water Development Board, said that necessary measures are being taken to take up the project by conducting a survey to prevent permanent erosion. At the same time, emergency measures have been taken to prevent breakage.
ZH
