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TANGAIL, July 13: The erosion by the Jhinai River at Rama Gachha area under No. 8 Ward of Gharinda Union in Sadar Upazila is threatening town protection dyke, graveyard, roads and houses. Besides, water may enter the town through the breached point anytime.
Local people alleged that illegal sand extraction by dredgers during the dry season is causing the erosion. Though the people complained to local public representatives and district administration regarding the sand extraction, they have been taken no steps in this connection.
Now, the new graveyard may also be eroded though the old one has already gone into the river. Besides, the houses may also be eroded.
While visiting the area on July 10 last, it was found that some parts of the town protection dyke at Rama Gachha area have been eroded and the rest are likely to face the same fate.
The homesteads of Tula Mia and Shahadat Hossen and some bamboo clusters have been partially eroded while the old graveyard has gone into the river and the new one may also be eroded anytime.
Md Molayem Talukder of Rama Gachha area said, "The road of our area is used as the Tangail town protection dyke. Some parts of the road have already been eroded, while breaches have been found in the rest portion. It may be eroded anytime. Our old graveyard has gone into the river, and the new one may also go anytime."
Md Badal Mia informed, "My father died two years ago. As the river eroded the old graveyard, I had to transfer my father's grave to a new location after seven months of his burial. We seek concerned authority's intervention to solve the problem."
Md Rana Mia told this correspondent, "Our croplands and houses are eroded every year as sand is extracted from the river with illegal dredgers during the dry season. We have informed the matter to the administration several times but there was no step in this connection."
Md Tula Mia said, "I had 180 decimals of ancestral land, but the river gradually eroded most of my lands. Now I have only 20 decimals of land and my house. Some portion of my homestead has been eroded. We have been living under risk of erosion. My house may be eroded anytime."
Md Aslam Uddin informed, "Our old graveyard on more than 18 decimals of land has been eroded by the river, while the new one is also under risk. If the town protection dyke is broken, the entire town will go under water within some hours."
In this connection, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jinat Jahan said, "We will know the matter through local representatives first and then take necessary action."
