Due to indiscriminate and unplanned excavation of soil from inside the guide-bank of the river Gomoti, electric poles inside the embankment of the river are threatened to be displaced and eroded in the river at any moment causing fatal accident.
According to sources, during the recent time, an influential soil-traders syndicate of Cumilla are engaged in excavating alluvial soil indiscriminately from char areas of the river badly hampering the crop cultivation and damaging the guide-bank (embankment) of the river. Moreover, various infrastructures situated beside the river are also being threatened to be devoured by the river current during the monsoon.
Due to unplanned and indiscriminate excavation of soil from the river, many electric poles inside the embankment of the river are also being threatened to be damaged, displaced and eroded in the river.
A source informed many electric connections have been given by using electric wires and many electric poles inside the embankment of the river Gomoti by the authorities of PDB and the Palli Bidduth Samity. Soil digging syndicates were excavating soil even from near those electric poles without considering the safety of the area, As a result, there might be a large-scale disaster in the area at any time.
The source further mentioned though the soil-syndicates were excavating soil from that area of the river for a long time, neither the Members of Law Enforcement Agency nor the Department of Environment, Water Development Board or the district administrator have so far taken any step against those soil excavators.
The electric supply cables have been hung through electric poles at the frontier areas of the Gomati river including at Adarsha sadar, Burichang, Brahmanpara, Debidar, Muradnagar, Titas and Daukandi. Many electric poles of the areas mentioned are in a dilapidated state and posing a threat for the areas.
Rabiul Hossain, Assistant General Manage of PBD, Cumilla Rabiul Hossain said, he came to learn the incident from the journalists. He assured to take action in this connection.
Abdul Latif, Executive Engineer of Cumilla WDB informed, the electric poles installed beside the river are all illegal. Moreover, those are vulnerable. He assured to discuss the matter to the Law and Order Committee meeting of the district.
Shaukat Ara Koli, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment informed, the matter involves with the Water Development Board and he has nothing to do with this.
Abul Fazal Meer, Deputy Commissioner of Cumilla informed, he would take necessary action in this connection soon.
