The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Chandpur

Navigation to and from Chandpur has been affected seriously due to rapid fall in water level of all rivers in the district and emergence of shoals.

Shoals have appeared in many places on the rivers of Padma, Meghna and Dakatia due to heavy siltation during the last few years.

Plying of riverine transports along different river routes have become very risky as well as time consuming.

According to Water Development Board's Chandpur office sources, water level recorded in Padma, Meghna and Dakatia were lower than normal during the current season.

Some eyewitnesses claimed that about 10 to 15 feet layer of siltation have appeared on the riverbeds of the rivers Padma and Meghna.

Locals warned that the ground and surface water will go down further affecting seriously the ecological balance and causing acute crisis of water.

Now water transport including steamers, launches, country boats plying between Chandpur-Dhaka, Chandpur-Barisal, Chandpur-Narayanganj, Chandpur- Khulna have to cover an additional distance of four to five kilometers to reach respective destination by diverting the original routes.

Eyewitnesses said passengers of steamers and launches plying on these routes have to suffer due to hidden shoals in different areas. Sometimes passengers on board are stranded for hours together in the middle of the river as the vessels sometimes hit hidden shoals and stream.

About 150 launches and other vessels are plying in these routes everyday. BIWTA is responsible to locate the sunken shoals on these riverbeds.

Experts observed that rivers Padma and Dakatia are flowing years together without dredging and suggested early dredging of these rivers. Dredging of rivers is convenient during the dry season, they told BSS adding, river transport system along Chandpur route will improve considerably following dredging.

Communications, trade and business of the area will be improved if dredging of these rivers are done in due time, the pointed out.