5 methods to check erosion exhibited at Teesta shoal in Lalmonirhat

An experimental exhibition on five methods to prevent erosion was held today at a village on the shoal of Teesta River in Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat.

The exhibition was organised by the science department of Saptibar Degree College at the erosion-affected Dakkhin Balapara village under ​​Mahishkhocha union this noon, reports our Lalmonirhat correspondent.

The methods demonstrated were: sand-filled wooden box method, sand-filled bamboo box method, the sandbag method which uses ropes, plastic boulder method, and plastic pipe method.

All procedures were demonstrated and explained through practical applications by the teachers and students of the science department of the college.

Two engineers of the Water Development Board (WDB), local public representatives and journalists were present at the exhibition.

"It is possible to prevent river erosion in a very short time by using the demonstrated methods. If the people living in river shoal areas want to get immediate protection from river erosion, they can adopt these methods," Sudan Chandra Roy, principal of Saptibari Degree College, told The Daily Star.

"Spending a small amount of money, they can save their homesteads and farmlands from erosion," he said, adding that they are ready to help the erosion-affected people in this regard.

An experimental exhibition on five methods to prevent erosion, organised by the science department of Saptibar Degree College, was held at a village on the shoal of Teesta River in Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat on August 17, 2020. Photo: S Dilip Roy

Liton Islam, a sub-assistant engineer of the WDB who was present there, told The Daily Star that people could save their lands from river erosion immediately by adopting the demonstrated methods.

"People may lose a lot to river erosion before the government hires contractors and starts repair works,' he said, adding "These methods will be of great use; the people living on the river bank areas will be able to protect themselves from erosion immediately by adopting the methods."

Mosaddek Hossain Chowdhury, chairman of Mahishkhocha Union Parishad, told The Daily Star that the exhibition would be of great benefit.

"The people have been motivated to prevent river erosion by spending only Tk 8-10 thousand instead of losing assets worth lakhs of taka. From now on they will check river erosion by adopting these methods," he said.

Jaherul Islam (56), a victim of river erosion from Dakkhon Balapara village, said they did not know about these methods before.

"While waiting for the government's initiative, we have lost our homes and cultivable lands. From now on, we will adopt these methods immediately to check erosion," he said.