Erosion Control Work Begins Within 36 Hours of Inqilab Report
Gangachara (Rangpur) Upazila Correspondent
Within just 36 hours of the Daily Inqilab reporting that Char Bagdahara Government Primary School in Nouhali Union of Gangachara Upazila of Rangpur was at risk of being eroded by the Teesta River, the Water Development Board has started work to prevent erosion. This has brought relief to the school’s students, teachers, guardians and panicked people living on the banks of the river.
Last Thursday, the Daily Inquilab published a news article titled ‘Schools in Gangachara in danger of being submerged by river erosion, no effective initiative’. The Water Development Board quickly took action after the news was published.
Last Thursday, the Daily Inqilab published a news article titled ‘Schools in Gangachara in danger of being submerged by river erosion, no effective initiative’. The Water Development Board quickly took action after the news was published.
Md. Ashraful Islam, Sub-Divisional Engineer of Water Development Board, Rangpur, inaugurated the river erosion prevention work in Char Bagdahara area on Saturday. Local dignitaries and locals were present at the event.
With the allocation of the Water Development Board, an initiative has been taken to initially place 6,700 geo bags in a 100-meter area to protect the school and surrounding areas.
Locals said that due to the severe erosion of the Teesta River, new homes, croplands and various structures were disappearing into the riverbed every day in the Azizulpara area of Ward No. 8 of Nauhali Union. At one stage, the distance from the river to Char Bagdahara Government Primary School decreased to about 60 meters. This caused extreme anxiety among students, teachers, guardians and locals for fear of losing the school.
Residents of the erosion-prone area have been demanding for a long time to take urgent preventive measures by placing enough geo bags. Despite several visits by officials of the Water Development Board to the area, no effective measures were visible, leading to anger and frustration among the locals.
Affected resident Abu Taleb said, “Enough geo bags need to be placed now to protect the school. It is not possible to prevent erosion by just making promises. We are optimistic now that work has begun.”
Gangachara Upazila Executive Officer Jasmine Akhter said that after learning that the Char Bagdahara Government Primary School is at risk of erosion by the Teesta River, the Water Development Board authorities have been informed to take necessary measures.
Meanwhile, local residents have expressed satisfaction with the rapid start of erosion control work after the news was published. They expect that in addition to initially placing geo-bags in a 100-meter area, more effective and sustainable preventive measures will be taken as needed, taking into account the severity of the erosion.
