Teesta Channel in Kurigram: Over 10,000 families under erosion threat

A new Teesta branch in Gatiashyam village of Gharialdanga in Kurigram's Rajarhat upazila has become the cause of concerns for locals.

Created in early July by erosion, the new branch is vulnerable to further erosion and the rising water level may damage the Water Development Board's flood control dyke and inundate the Rajarhat-Teesta Highway, which is already at risk of erosion, anytime.

WDB has already deployed geo bags and tubes on a one-km stretch of the channel to block water flowing into the new tributary. However, the measures may be washed away by the rising water level, feared locals.

"The new branch has already risked the lives of over 10,000 families. The branch needs to be sealed off immediately," said Hasan Jihadi, a member of Teesta Bachao Nodi Bachao Sangram Parishad.

Sand from the new channel is accumulating on arable land, riverbanks and the village, said Abdul Jabbar, a farmer. "It will make the soil unsuitable for any crop cultivation," he said.

A man sits by the riverbank worried over the rising water level. Photo: Star

Farmer Nurul Haque is also worried as the water is entering villages through the new channel.

"A slight rise in the water level will flood the entire village. Erosion will follow even after the water recedes, and that's what worries us more," he informed.

Abdul Quddus Pramanik, the union chairman, said, "The new channel is not just posing threats to our union but to the whole upazila. Lawmakers, officials from the upazila administration, and WDB authorities have already visited the area. We urged them to take necessary measures soon."

Geo bags were placed to prevent the water from entering the channel  upon instruction from the local lawmaker, informed Abdullah Al Mamun, executive engineer of WDB in Kurigram.

"We are monitoring the situation and have appealed for funds to tackle the issue," he added.