Md. Jamal Hossain, Khulna:
The Jhapjhapia River has been severely eroded in Moukhali village of Pankhali Union in Dakop Upazila of the district. About 20,000 people from six villages have been panicked. If the risky embankment is not repaired quickly, there is a fear that several villages in Pankhali and Tildanga Unions, including Chalna, will be flooded at any moment due to the river erosion. As a result, the local residents have sought the intervention of the Paubo authorities to quickly repair this risky embankment before a natural disaster.
According to local sources, a terrible crack has appeared in the 200-meter embankment in front of Gazi Bari in Moukhali village of Pankhali Union in Polder No. 31 of Paubo in the upazila for the past two days. From there, one-third of the embankment has already disappeared into the riverbed. About 20,000 people from about 2,000 families in the villages of Moukhali, Pankhali, Laxmikhola, Khatail, Katabunia and Hoglabunia of the union are in panic. In addition, the water level of the Bhadra, Andhar Manik, Pashur, Dhaki and Shibsa rivers in the upazila has increased by 3 to 4 feet. As a result, new river erosion and cracks have started in Laxmikhola of Pankhali Union in Polder No. 31 of Paubo, on the west side of Kheaghat in Pankhali Jaber, Khona, Jhalbunia of Tildanga Union, Mojam Nagar, Andhar Manik, and Khalisha of Chalna Municipality. Locals fear that a part of the damaged embankment will disappear into the riverbed and be flooded at any moment if the damaged areas are not repaired quickly.
Local grocer Taibur Rahman said, “A few days ago, when a terrible crack appeared in front of the Moukhali Gazi house, I informed the local public representative to repair it. He also immediately informed the authorities of the concerned PAUBO about the matter through a mobile phone. At that time, the PAUBO did not take any steps to protect the embankment. As a result, most of the embankment has disappeared into the riverbed in the last two days. And because of this, hundreds of families in the Moukhali village have panicked.
Pankhali UP Chairman Sheikh Sabbir Ahmed said, the damaged PAUBO embankment has become more vulnerable to the severe erosion of the Kharsrota Jhapjhapiyar River. I have spoken to the higher authorities of the Water Development Board for the rapid construction of an alternative embankment. They have come to the area and observed the embankment. It is hoped that the PAUBO will start work to protect this risky embankment very soon.
In this regard, Khulna Water Development Board (PAUBO-2) Sub-Divisional Engineer Madhusudan Pal said, we have observed the damaged embankment in the Jhapjhapiya riverbed on the spot. Survey activities have been started to take immediate action. In addition, the higher authorities of PAUBO have been informed of the matter to take a plan to prevent river erosion in some nearby places.
In this regard, Khulna Water Development Division-2 (BAPAUBO) Khulna Executive Engineer Md. Ashraful Alam said, about 70 meters of the Jhapjhapiya river embankment in Dakop has been damaged. However, it is about 15 meters away from the main river. As a result, there is no fear of the dam breaking and disappearing into the river. However, there is a mosque outside the embankment. We are conducting a survey of everything. Once the survey is completed, urgent steps will be taken to protect the embankment.
Views: 5
