Incessant heavy rains and hillslopes coming down from upstream are increasing Teesta water submerging low lying areas. In addition, extensive erosion has occurred in various pastures.
Water has risen in the central crematorium located in Ramdakua area of the municipality. Continued erosion cannot be prevented. Low-lying areas are getting flooded. Char’s communication system has been cut off due to rising water. It is not possible to go from one char to another without a boat.
Teesta River flows over Tarapur, Belka, Haripur, Chandipur, Sreepur and Kapasia Unions of Sundarganj Upazila. Due to heavy rains and upstream flows, Teesta branch river is submerged in water. At the same time, river erosion began. Continues throughout the year. According to the demands of the riverside people, the government has not taken initiatives to permanently prevent river erosion, dredging, digging and renovating the river even in the long days after independence. Because of which more than five hundred homesteads, thousands of acres of crop land are disappearing under the river every year.
Jahidul Islam, Abdul Hamid of Lalchamar village and many others said that the low-lying areas were submerged due to the sudden rise in Teesta water due to heavy rains. There is no limit to the suffering of the people of the Teesta grasslands when the water in the river rises and floods occur.
Sanju Mia of Dangar Char village of Haripur Union said that when the water rises, the suffering of Char people also increases. Every year due to the erosion of the river, homesteads, arable land are disappearing under the river. A pastoralist has to move at least four times a season. But today there is no permanent measure to prevent river erosion.
Chairman of Haripur Union Md. Mojaharul Islam said that the low-lying area of his union has been submerged due to rising water. But so far no environment has been created to go to the shelter. Erosion continues as well. Initially geo bags and geo tubes are being thrown to prevent erosion. If the erosion is not stopped permanently, the misery of Charbashi will never go away. Every year, more than five hundred houses and thousands of acres of crops are lost in the river bed due to erosion.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Rashidul Kabir said that due to sudden heavy rain, the water is rising in the cropland in the low area of the char area. If the water remains standing, there is a possibility of crop damage. However, due to erosion, cropland in some char areas is disappearing under the river bed. This is causing loss to the farmer.
Upazila Project Implementation Officer Md. Walif Mondal said that due to sudden heavy rain, the low-lying area of Teesta is getting flooded. Erosion has occurred in some pastures. The chairman of the union council has been asked to keep track. Relief will be provided if needed.
Hafizul Haque, civil engineer of Gaibandha Water Development Board, said that geo bags and geo tubes are being thrown to prevent erosion. However, the permanent prevention of erosion is a matter of decision of the upper echelons of the government.