Thousands of people living beside the river Gorai at Baliakandi upazila in Rajbari were spending their days in panic as the erosion of the river bank turned alarming with the decrease of water level of the river for the last one week.
Local people informed erosion beside the river has been intensified in villages Knoagram, Morabila, Sona Kandor, Jamsapur and Bangarbah under Narua union of the upazila. Large cracks have been formed in many places and those huge chunks of land are being collapsed into the river.
During the starting of the rainy season, people tried to check erosion by making bamboo fences along the river but failed to check it. Huge landed properties with houses and roads eroded into the river.
Sohel Rana, resident of Narua village informed, erosion of the river has been intensified with the decrease of water of the river. The erosion was also intensified along riverside while the water of the river was increasing. People living beside the river are worried at the intensity of the erosion.
Abude Salam. Chairman of Narua Union Parishad informed, most of the people live beside the river are poor, daily wage earners and live hand to mouth. They are utterly helpless to the wrath of nature. Due to erosion of the river Gorai, most of those poor section of people have turned paupers. Even, many well off people have also become helpless by losing their homestead and cultivable land in the river. He suggested an effective and sustainable plan to River Training so that people along the river could live without worry.
Nurun Nabi, Sub-divisional Engineeri of Water Development Board, Baliakandi, informed, erosion along the river is noticed during recession of water every year and there was no exception this year. He mentioned, permanent measure is being taken to check river erosion.
Isharat Jahan, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Rajbari said, the condition of erosion of river Gorai has been intensified. She said, there was no correct information of the number of erosion-affected families because every day new areas and houses are being eroded. She added, a project involving Taka 200 crore (2,000 million) has been taken to check erosion of the river Gorai and after the implementation of the project, people living beside the river will get rid of the erosion.
