Water Level Falls in Jamuna, Erosion Threatens 33kV Power Substation

The water level in the Jamuna has fallen. But sudden and severe river erosion has hit Purana Bharenga Union in Bera upazila of Pabna.
Homesteads, croplands, electricity poles and trees have already been washed away. Several families are spending sleepless nights in fear of further erosion.
Fresh erosion has occurred in several villages. They include Natun Bharenga, Purana Bharenga, Kalyanpur Char, Baktapur, Char Singhash and Lewlaipara.
The erosion has reached close to the Kalyanpur 33kV electricity substation. As a result, the substation is now at risk of being swallowed by the river. If the substation is damaged, thousands of consumers in a large area could lose power.
The sudden erosion has already caused damage to infrastructure. An electricity pole was washed away on September 29. Power supply was also suspended for 22 hours. This shows the serious condition of the electricity system in Kalyanpur.
Locals said the erosion can happen very quickly. In some cases, croplands and homes disappear into the river within a few hours or overnight. They said they do not even get enough time to move their belongings and homes to safety.
The riverside residents said they do not want relief or small financial assistance. They want a permanent solution. Their main demand is a durable river-protection embankment and permanent bank protection with concrete blocks.
They also urged the government to take up permanent river-management work at once. They said the government should not provide small allocations every year.
Md Alauddin, line technician (LT) at the Kalyanpur 33kV electricity substation, said the situation had changed very quickly.
“At 5pm last Tuesday, we considered the area safe. But around 8pm, sudden erosion caused a pole of the 33kV substation to disappear into the river,” he said.
“Sometimes the situation becomes so unpredictable that we do not even get enough time to disconnect the transformer from the pole. We are having to work at great risk,” he added.
He said the erosion site is about 250 metres from the substation.
“If action is not taken very soon, the substation could suffer major damage,” he said.
Md Haider Ali, an engineer at the Bera Water Development Board sub-division, said they had received reports of erosion at several locations along the Jamuna, including Kalyanpur.
“We are closely monitoring the situation. Senior officials have also been informed. We hope work to prevent the erosion will begin very soon,” he said.