The government has undertaken initiatives to prevent the erosion of Karnaphuli River in Boalkhali upazila of Chattogram district.
For this, a project titled “bank conservation works to prevent erosion of Karnaphuli River and connected canals at various places under the upazila” has been proposed in the planning commission.
The total cost of its implementation has been estimated at Tk 154.81 crore. An official of the Planning Commission said that if this project is implemented, important public and private buildings, educational institutions in different areas, markets and shops, mosques, madrasas and paved roads, along with various structures including cropland will be saved. These assets are worth Tk 76,550 crore, he added.
According to the project proposal, Boalkhali upazila is considered as a geographically important upazila.
The Karnaphuli River flowing over this upazila is an important river in the south-eastern region of the country. The Karnaphuli River originates from Lushai Hills in the Indian state of Assam and enters the country through Barkal Upazila of Rangamati Hill District.
Then it flows downstream in various curved paths of mountains surrounded by mountain forests and falls into the Bay of Bengal through Rangunia, Raujan, Boalkhali,
Anwara upazila and Chattogram city of Chattogram district over Kaptai Lake.
Besides, the Boalkhali canal originates from the dense forest of the Bandarban hill district and flows over the three unions of the upazila in a long winding path and falls into the Karnaphuli River.
Also, Chandriyakhaal, Raikhalikhaal, Baramba canal originates in the dense forest of Bandarban hill district and flows over Boalkhali upazila and joins the Karnaphuli River.
On November 29, 2020, Deputy Minister of Water Resources AKM EnamulHaqueShamim visited the areas affected by river erosion in different parts of Boalkhali Upazila. He ordered the sending of the project proposal including the places affected by river bank erosion.
There is a need to prepare a survey report with recommendations based on up-to-date data by visiting the field level for formulating the project's Development Project Proposal (DPP).
For this, a survey committee was formed on January 31, 2021 through the Additional Director General (Planning) of Bangladesh Water Development Board.
The survey committee submitted a technical report on November 7, 2021 after conducting site visits and searching for information.
Later, the Standing Committee of the Ministry of Water Resources visited the project area and recommended the formulation of a new DPP to prevent river erosion in Boalkhali Upazila. The project proposal has been prepared in this context.
Under the project, resources of Tk 152.61 crore (Tk 21 crore per kilometer) have been kept for conservation work of 7.260 km of river banks.