Severe Teesta River erosion affects people in Kaunia

Monirul Islam Mintu, Kaunia (Rangpur)

Severe Teesta River erosion is affecting the people of Gadai and Panjarbhanga villages in Kaunia Upazila of the district. During the monsoon season, the Teesta River remains full of water. As the flood waters recede, the banks of the Teesta River erode. At that time, that is, during the months of Magh and Falgun, chars emerge on the bank of the river. Before the flood water comes, the farmers spend a busy time growing various crops in these chars of Teesta. When the Teesta starts to erode, the people on the banks of the river become panicked. The people of Tepamadhupur, Balapara, Shahidbag, and Haragachh unions of Kaunia Upazila along the Teesta River have been experiencing this erosion for ages. This year the picture of Panjarbhanga and Gadai villages of the upazila is different. Every day in these villages the river is swallowing acre after acre of cropland. The erosion has become so severe that local people are panicking. Locals said that such erosion had never happened before. Unplanned extraction of sand by the influential quarters from the river has changed the course of the river. Because of that, the water flow from the main river is blocked and the water rushes to the bank due to which river erosion happens.
On Tuesday morning, it was found that the river has eroded in an area of 3 km in Gadai and Panjarbhanga villages of Balapara Union. Every day houses and cropland are disappearing in the river. Many have become destitute after losing their properties. Geo bags filled with sand given by the Bangladesh Water Development Board are being thrown into the river to prevent river erosion in Panjarbhanga Village. Shaheen Alam of Gadai Village said, “The river erosion is happening due to the unplanned lifting of sand from the
Teesta River. I demand immediate action to stop the sand lifting and take quick action for the river erosion.” Habibur Rahman, a farmer of Gadai Village and a member of the Upazila Awami League, said, “I have lost about 50 acres of arable land in the river due to erosion. I demand the speedy implementation of the Teesta Master Plan promised by the Prime Minister. If it is not implemented quickly, all the land and houses in this area will disappear into the river.” Mostafizar Rahman, general secretary of Teesta Bachao Nadi Bachao Sangram Parishad, said, “Due to the lack of scientific river training and dredging and as the riverbed has become high, the river is eroding and the water is flowing over the banks. Besides, due to the lack of legal dunes in Kaunia, influential people are lifting sand from the river in an unplanned manner. As a result, the course of the river has changed and the river is eroding.” Local UP Member Shah Alam said, the way the river is eroding, the entire area will be submerged in the river. He drew the attention of the concerned to take quick action. Balapara Union Parishad Chairman Ansar Ali said, “The way the river is eroding if there is no permanent river training, the whole village will disappear into the river. I have discussed with the concerned department to prevent the erosion and the work will start there soon.” Kaunia Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Mohidul Haque said, “All efforts are being made to prevent river erosion. The administration is active in stopping sand lifting. Several operations have been conducted to stop illegal sand lifting. At least 4,000 geo bags provided by the BWDB for Panjarbhanga Village have been
received and are being dumped on the spot. I visited the damaged area of Gadai Village on Sunday. I have already spoken to the relevant authorities of the BWDB to prevent the erosion there, they will start work there in a short time.
Apart from this, I have spoken to the Commerce Minister and he assured me to take necessary measures to prevent erosion.”