Manikganj Correspondent :
The water level of Padma-Jamuna at Aricha Point increased by 21 cm in 24 hours and was flowing at 7.93 level on Sunday. The locals demanded to take necessary steps to prevent the breakage. Local people have been working day and night to protect their houses at their own expense due to delay in taking government initiatives.
It is learned that at least 300 houses in Shibalaya, Maluchi, Gandhail, Teota, Nihalpur, Dakshin Shibalaya, Chhota Anulia, Anvaypur, Jhariarbagh, Daskanti etc. are at risk of severe erosion due to rising water level.
Water Development Board Manikganj sub-division executive assistant Ashraful Islam told that a high-powered team from the agency’s Center for Environment Geographic Information System (CEGIS) had recently visited the affected area.
In addition, part of the road surrounding the west side wall of the Power Development Board Aricha PCPOL construction factory has collapsed. More than 300 houses in these villages including Dakshin Shibalaya, Chhota Anulia, Anvaypur, Jhariabagh, Daskandi are facing demolition.
Panicked people are being forced to remove their houses and cut down valuable trees. Harun Mallick, a resident of Dakshin Shibalaya village, said at least 90 houses in the village had collapsed in the last three days. Many are trying to move elsewhere.
Mozammel Haque, headmaster of the local Teota Academy High School, a resident of the same village, said many houses along the river would be destroyed if effective steps were not taken at the beginning of the water rise and erosion. No action has been taken so far to prevent the rupture despite informing the concerned department.
Akhter Hossain of Chhota Anulia village said that local people have been working day and night to protect their houses at their own expense due to delay in taking government initiatives.
