Barisal Correspondent :
Sugandha River erosion has endangered Bir Shrestha Jahangir Bridge threatening cutting off road communication of southern region with other parts of the country.
Locals alleged that the situation is getting worse for lack of coordination between Roads and Highways (R&H) Department and Water Development Board (WDB) and trying to transfer responsibility of erosion prevention on the shoulder of each other.
On Sunday, suddenly about 700 feet area including Mosharraf-Rasheda Academy ground and mosque on river bank eroded away within few hours.
Besides, Bir Shrestha Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Bridge, locally known as Doarika Setu, in Babuganj upazila of the district connecting southern region with other parts of the country, is under threat from erosion by the Sugandha River.
A large portion of the guide wall and bridge protection embankment has already gone into the river within last few days endangering the bridge and highway connecting road communication of southern region with other parts of the country.
After emerging a shoal in Rakudia area along the western bank, the erosion by the river has taken a serious turn on the eastern site near Barisal-Dhaka Highway.
Locals said, the river will soon devour Doaraika Setu, Rashida Mosharraf Academy, a mosque, 30 residential and eight commercial houses and around 100 acres of cropland at Mohishadi village if emergency steps to stop erosion are not taken.
Vehicles ply the bridge approach road amid risk of accident as it (road) has been damaged at different points due to the impact of river onslaught.
Though properties worth cores of taka are destroying every year, the authorities concerned have not yet taken necessary steps to save the area from river erosion.
Locals taking initiatives trying to collect fund and preparing cages filled with sands and bricks placing those at riverbanks for preventing Sugandha River erosion.
A sustainable master plan needed to prevent river erosion. Dumping of sand bags and geo-bags into the river are not the proper steps to stop erosion. Rather, the measures give scope for corruption by the officials and contractors concerned, said Advocate Sheikh Md. Tipu Sultan, local lawmaker.
Shah Muhammad Shams Mokaddas, Executive Engineer of R&H, Barisal, said we have no ability to check river erosion. R&H can only repair the damaged roads and highways and prepare diversion roads to avoid danger. WDB is responsible for not taking steps to check river erosion, he added.
However, after getting sanctions of Tk two core as emergency costing a tender has been called recently for repairing damages of the road and a plan sent to WDB office requesting for taking a master plan to prevent river erosion near the highway and bridge.
It is the duty of R&H to protect the bridge and road from being damaged. We yet not received any plan and request from R & H Department to prevent river erosion for saving the highway and the bridge, Ramzan Ali Sardar, Chief Engineer of WDB Barisal region, said.
However, the WDB is trying its best to check river erosion of Sugandha River at Rakudia Abul Kalam Azad College, Baherchar , Airport and adjacent points of the river.
A master plan to check erosion by the Sugandha was submitted to the water resources ministry. After allocation of fund, necessary steps will be taken to stop river erosion, the WDB regional chief engineer added.
Sugandha River erosion has endangered Bir Shrestha Jahangir Bridge threatening cutting off road communication of southern region with other parts of the country.
Locals alleged that the situation is getting worse for lack of coordination between Roads and Highways (R&H) Department and Water Development Board (WDB) and trying to transfer responsibility of erosion prevention on the shoulder of each other.
On Sunday, suddenly about 700 feet area including Mosharraf-Rasheda Academy ground and mosque on river bank eroded away within few hours.
Besides, Bir Shrestha Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Bridge, locally known as Doarika Setu, in Babuganj upazila of the district connecting southern region with other parts of the country, is under threat from erosion by the Sugandha River.
A large portion of the guide wall and bridge protection embankment has already gone into the river within last few days endangering the bridge and highway connecting road communication of southern region with other parts of the country.
After emerging a shoal in Rakudia area along the western bank, the erosion by the river has taken a serious turn on the eastern site near Barisal-Dhaka Highway.
Locals said, the river will soon devour Doaraika Setu, Rashida Mosharraf Academy, a mosque, 30 residential and eight commercial houses and around 100 acres of cropland at Mohishadi village if emergency steps to stop erosion are not taken.
Vehicles ply the bridge approach road amid risk of accident as it (road) has been damaged at different points due to the impact of river onslaught.
Though properties worth cores of taka are destroying every year, the authorities concerned have not yet taken necessary steps to save the area from river erosion.
Locals taking initiatives trying to collect fund and preparing cages filled with sands and bricks placing those at riverbanks for preventing Sugandha River erosion.
A sustainable master plan needed to prevent river erosion. Dumping of sand bags and geo-bags into the river are not the proper steps to stop erosion. Rather, the measures give scope for corruption by the officials and contractors concerned, said Advocate Sheikh Md. Tipu Sultan, local lawmaker.
Shah Muhammad Shams Mokaddas, Executive Engineer of R&H, Barisal, said we have no ability to check river erosion. R&H can only repair the damaged roads and highways and prepare diversion roads to avoid danger. WDB is responsible for not taking steps to check river erosion, he added.
However, after getting sanctions of Tk two core as emergency costing a tender has been called recently for repairing damages of the road and a plan sent to WDB office requesting for taking a master plan to prevent river erosion near the highway and bridge.
It is the duty of R&H to protect the bridge and road from being damaged. We yet not received any plan and request from R & H Department to prevent river erosion for saving the highway and the bridge, Ramzan Ali Sardar, Chief Engineer of WDB Barisal region, said.
However, the WDB is trying its best to check river erosion of Sugandha River at Rakudia Abul Kalam Azad College, Baherchar , Airport and adjacent points of the river.
A master plan to check erosion by the Sugandha was submitted to the water resources ministry. After allocation of fund, necessary steps will be taken to stop river erosion, the WDB regional chief engineer added.
