Geo Bag's 'Solace' Comes After Losing Everything
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Photo: Barta24.com
Erosion of Teesta is going on in the vast area of Vidyananda Union of Rajarhat Upazila of Kurigram. More than 50 families were affected by the landslide last week. Some have lost their land and are destitute; some have lost their only cropland. After reducing the intensity of erosion, the activities of the Water Development Board are only 'consolation' for the affected families, the locals say. They complain why measures are not taken in the dry season before the erosion. On the contrary, the Water Development Board says that there is no allocation of long-term and permanent works. Erosion is prevented with Geo bags only on an emergency basis when erosion starts.
On Saturday (June 22) at noon, Barta24.com visited some of the damaged places in Teesta bank of Vidyananda Union. The cries of the affected people can be seen. The workers are busy repairing the house with the house owners. All the small and big trees are being cut knowing that they will be destroyed in the erosion. These trees are being sold at less than half price. Kalirhat Bazar and Kalirhat Government Primary School located in Satura village of this union are also in danger of erosion. Just a few meters away, Teesta's eyes are flashing, signaling the school's closing time. To protect the school and the market, the Water Development Board has started preparing the first Geo bags on this day. However, the locals are calling the initiative a sham.
I met Zaherul Islam, a resident of this village, in a house next to the market. Half of the house where there was a settlement a few days ago is now occupied by Teesta. He said, it was my house. It all ended a few days ago. Some trees were eaten by the river before they were cut. I went to the school next door. Now I have nowhere to go. If the government had taken measures before the collapse, then I would not have to be destitute. Today we are being consoled by bringing some Geo bags. They will not survive this current.
Namita Rani has been working since morning to move the house next door. Leaving her sick husband in the neighboring house, she is arranging the furniture of the house alone. While working, the river was far away even last Friday. I didn't expect it to break so fast. The girl drags the class. There is no place other than this place. Do I stress about my daughter's marriage or think about staying? Where will I be now with this sick husband and young girl? I saw Geo bag in the market. If they were brought a few days ago, the house could have been saved.
Saiful Islam came to his home from afar to see the news of Geo bags in the market. He said, where Geo has kept bags to throw in the river, that is my land. Here was my home. I moved to the house in the morning. Geo bag broke here last year. The bags move in the current of the river or they can be given away. They will not work during floods. It will spoil after a few days.
Director of Riverine People and Professor and Dean of Begum Rokeya University's Bengali Department, river researcher Dr. Tuhin Wadud said, Bangladesh part of Teesta has about 32 km of erosion prone area. It does not take more than Tk. 1000 crore to solve them permanently. As a result of this it is possible to save about Tk. 1 lakh crores of wealth every year. But there is no special budget for Teesta due to the government's lack of attention towards the northern region. This is a shame of the government. Every year during the rainy season, the measures taken by the Water Development Board to prevent erosion by using sandbags are not very useful. It is nothing but comfort in dire straits.
People's complaints and measures to prevent temporary erosion were discussed with Rafsan Jani, sub-divisional engineer of Kurigram Water Development Board in charge of Teesta River in Rajahat Upazila. He said, erosion has occurred at 4-5 points in Rajarhat upazila. Kali Hat area of Vidyananda Union is most at risk. We are already preparing Geo bags there to prevent erosion. Geo bags will be thrown into the river from Sunday as much as needed will be given there.
He also said that these are emergency work. When there is trouble we go there. Authorities don't give allotments before the monsoon season. It is a temporary job. Blocking the river is our permanent work which lasts almost all seasons. A study of our own is underway in Teesta. If that is the case we will present the project. There is no permanent work in Teesta until that allocation comes.
