Khulna Correspondent :More than 200 families in several villages under Koyra upazila of Khulna district are passing days amid fear and anxiety as erosion by the river Kapatakkha has devoured large portions of the Gazipara flood control embankment at several points.The villages include Katkata, Motbari, Charamukha, Angtihara and Dashalia, said an official of Water Development Board (WDB) in the district.Around two kilometers in the area is now under threat of erosion by the river Kapatakka, said UP member of Koyra Sadar union Sheikh Abul Kalam Azad.Till the end of 2000, around 100 bighas croplands, more than 50 homesteads and several business centers were devoured during three spates of erosion, he said.Erosion by the river rendered around 300 families of Koyra upazila homeless in the last two years, he added.The UP member also expressed deep concern as the affected people took shelter on the embankment and the erosion is still going on.More than 200 families of different villages are facing threat of erosion as the river is flowing just near the embankment.Shahadat Hossain, 53, a grocer of Charamukha village said that he had lost his shop to the river recently. “Now I am helpless”, he lamented.”We are living in fear round the clock as might devour out homesteads and even take our lives”, said Enamul Haque of village Motbari.Tonmoy Mollik, 26, a student and resident of Angtihara village, is now living at Pabla Bonikpara area under Daulatpur police station in Khulna city in fear of fresh erosion in his locality.Local UP chairman Sarder Motiar Rahman said, “Though We informed the WDB authorities several times, they did not pay any heed , so the villagers are voluntarily trying heart and soul to protect the embankment from collapsing.”UP Member Gonesh Chandra Mondal said, fierce collapse created at Gazipara embankment throughout 200 feet, if it is not repaired, two rivers Kapatakka and Shakbaria might be one.Faruk Ahmed, Sub-divisional Engineer of WDB said, “The concerned officer has been on leave. Proper steps will be taken immediately in this regard.”UNO of Koyra Upazila Md. Bodiuzzaman expressed great concern and told that the WDB authorities are not available when they are called.
