Although many rivers of the country are dying day by day, nearly 22,900 people may lose their homesteads and croplands this year due to erosion by three major rivers – the Jamuna, Ganges and Padma, says a recent study.The study, conducted by the Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), says about 12,840 people will be the worst victims to river erosion losing their homesteads and lands by the Jamuna River alone while about 4640 may become landless and homeless by the Ganges (Bangladesh part) and about 5,420 may lose their houses and land due to erosion by the Padma River.
In 2012, the Jamuna, the Ganges and the Padma devoured about 3,690 hectares of land, 585 hectares of settlement, 2.3 kilometres of active embankment, 3.3 kilometres of district road, 2.1 kilometres of upazila road and 3.3 kilometres of rural road.
During the period, the three rivers engulfed 23 educational institutions, 20 mosques, one government office, one non-government office and two health centres.
The study forecasts that 2,200 hectares of land, 338 hectares of settlement, 5,960 metres of active embankment and 7.5 kilometres of road would be eroded away by the Jamuna, the Ganges and the Padma this year.
Besides, 48 educational institutions, 35 mosques, six markets, one government and three non-government offices, and four health centres are vulnerable to erosion by the rivers.
The land eroded along the Jamuna River was 2408 hectares in 2012, leaving some 24,000 affected.
The study has identified 27 locations vulnerable to erosion by the Jamuna, which may occur in 2013. Among these locations, seven are in Kurigram, five in Gaibandha, one in Bogra, four in Sirajganj, two in Jamalpur, two in Manikganj, three in Tangail, one Gaibandha, one in both Jamalpur and Bogra and one in both Jamalpur and Tangail.
About 1284 hectares of land and 216 hectares of settlement are also vulnerable to Jamuna erosion also this year. The predicted maximum erosion of land (about 315 hectares) and settlement (about 45 hectares) is in Sirajganj, and the second and third highest vulnerable land is in Kuringram (about 240 hectares) and Jamalpur (about 195 hectares).
In 2012, about 580 hectares of land were eroded away along the Ganges River. The CEGIS study found 10 locations vulnerable to erosion by the Ganges River. Among these locations, four are in Rajshahi, two in Nawabganj, one in Pabna, one in Kushtia, one in Rajbari and one in Pabna.
About 464 hectares of land and 59 hectares of settlement are vulnerable to the Ganges River erosion. The predicted maximum erosion of land is about 157 hectares in Rajshahi. But the maximum vulnerable settlement (20 ha) is found in Nawabganj.
The study also detects four vulnerable locations to erosion by the Padma River. Among the locations, one is in Faridpur, two are in Shariatpur and one in both Manikganj and Dhaka.
About 542 hectares of land and 63 hectares of settlement are vulnerable to erosion by the Padma. The predicted maximum erosion of land (about 189 ha) is in Faridpur and the predicted maximum erosion of settlement (about 38 hectares) is in Shariatpur. UNB
