DHAKA : Erosion by the rivers Padma and Jamuna has taken a serious turn in Shariatpur and Manikganj districts for last few days, threatening a vast tract of crop lands and establishments.
 
In Shariatpur, a vast lands of 12 villages in Naria and Jazira upazillas disappeared into the River Padma in a week till Monday as the water level of the mighty river started swelling.

About 40 families of the erosion-hit areas have shifted their dwellings to safer places.
 
Meanwhile, a stretch of one km area on Shariatpur-Jazira road and Shariatpur-Naria road were washed away by the gushing floodwaters.

Besides, some portion of a market near Mangal Majhirghat, Chandipur market, WAPDA market and Sureshwar market went into the riverbed.

A total of 20 shops of Mangalmajhirghat and Chandipur market have been shifted to another place.

“We have nothing to do in controlling the erosion right now. But, a feasibility study is being carried out on constructing a three-km dam in Naria upazila,” Executive Engineer of Water Development Board Md. Abdul Hannan told banglanews24.com.bd.

In Manikganj, Over 50 villages of 15 unions in Daulatpur, Shibaloy and Harirampur upazillas are threatened under severe erosion.
 
Daulatpur upazilla chairman Abdul Qader said the River Jamuna devoured about 150 dwelling houses, educational institutions, a community center and a vast areas and cultivable lands of 40 villages in the upazilla in a week till Monday.
 
WDB Executive Engineer Md. Nasiruddin said the WDB authorities are in trouble to check the erosion that took a serious turn in about 16 unions in the district.

“Sand bags have been dumping to save the district protection embankment. Construction of a cross dam or a T-embankment on the upstream is needed for changing the course of the river to control erosion,” said Nasiruddin.

He also informed a Tk 300 crore project is waiting for ECNEC approval for the permanent solution of the problem.

BDST: 1700 HRS, JULY 13, 2010