Receding rivers causing erosion in B'putra basin

RANGPUR, July 14 (BSS) - The major rivers marked falls at most points during the past 24 hours but triggering more incidents of sporadic erosions along the unstable riversides in the Brahmaputra basin, locals and official sources said.

Local people and public representatives said more than 750 riverside houses have been devoured to the riverbeds so far at places in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Bogra and Sirajganj districts.

They said the stronger river currents with receding water levels in the Brahmaputra, Dharla, Teesta, Dudhkumar and other rivers have been causing more erosion devouring more houses, arable lands and other properties. "The situation is still under control," WDB Executive Engineer Anwar Hossain said.

Local sources feared more erosion at places in Fulbari, Ulipur, Chilmari, Rajibpur, Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Aditmari, Kawnia, Gangachara, Sundarganj, Shaghata and Fulchhari upazilas in greater Rangpur and at places in Bogra and Sirajganj.

Erosion-hit people Nur Islam, Nazmul, Hamidul Islam, Mizanur and Siddik of village Joyram Ojha in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur said more than 50 houses were devoured by the Teesta during the past one week in their village.

"Over 100 families have also shifted their houses as erosion of the Teesta has created threats to their existence though there is no flood situation," they said.

The WDB sources said the Teesta marked falls by 7cm at Kawnia, 5cm at Dalia and 2cm at Sundarganj during the past 24 hours to flow 125cm, 40cm and 104cm below its respective Danger Marks (DM) at 6am today.

The Brahmaputra remained unchanged at Noonkhawa and Chilmari points and rose by 2cm at Fulchhari during the period to flow 194cm, 119cm and 62cm below its respective DMs at these points this morning. The Dharla marked fall by 18cm at Kurigram and the Ghaghot rose by 1cm at Gaibandha during the period to flow 137cm and 73cm below their respective DMs at these points today. However, the Jamuna marked little rises by 4cm at Bahadurabad and 1cm at Sirajganj during the same period till 6am today to flow 26cm and 55cm below its respective DMs at these points at 6am today.

Besides, the Padma marked further falls by 12cm each at Rajshahi and the Hardinge Bridge during the period to flow 275cm and 220cm below its respective DMs at these points in the Ganges at 6 am today, the WDB sources said.

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