Surge of river water from upstream is causing the Surma, Lova, and Kushiyara rivers to steadily swell, inducing river erosion in Kanaighat and Zakiganj upazila of Sylhet.
According to local sources, the Surma River dike has collapsed in several points in Kuorghari, Bongouripur, Dakhinlakshiprashad villages of Lakshiprashadpashim union in Kanaighat. The road completely submerged few feet underwater cutting off communication between nearby areas of Kanaighat Temple.
The Surma River is subject to severe to erosion every year, which makes Kuorghari, Bongouripur, Dakhinlakshiprashad villages vulnerable to flood. As every year homes and croplands are damaged in the flood, locals have demanded prompt river protection measures from the government.
“The recent surge in river water has caused the dikes to collapse in Kanaighat and Zakiganj. Although the damages have been temporarily repaired in Kanaighat, efforts are still underway to do the same in Zakiganj,” said Md Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, executive engineer of Sylhet Water Development Board (WDB).
He said that a big problem when repairing dikes is the lack of space on the banks of the river. “The WDB cannot acquire any privately owned land.
“A 300-meter stretch of the dam in Zakiganj—which has been under constant repair for two years now—collapsed on Thursday and efforts are underway to repair it.”
He added said the water level of Surma and Kushiyara rivers has yet to cross the danger level but the water level of the two rivers has been steadily rising since Thursday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Kanaighat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Bariul Karim Khan has been supervising the dike repair works carried out by locals with bamboos, earth and sandbags in order prevent river erosion in Kanaighat temple area.
Local UP chairman and officials of the Water Development Board were present at the time.
Kanaighat Upazila Parishad Chairman Abdul Mumin Chowdhury has called on the local WDB to come forward to protect erosion-prone areas and its people in Kanaighat from upcoming floods.
The Surma and Kushiyara are tributaries of the Barak River that enter Bangladesh from the Indian Manipur state.
