Four pry schools in Bauphal at risk of being washed away

 
BAUPHAL, PATUAKHALI, Aug 19:  Four government primary schools in Bauphal Upazila are at risk of being washed away as erosion by the Tentulia and Karkhana rivers has brought their banks dangerously close to the educational institutions.

Local residents and guardians fear that the schools could be swallowed by the rivers at any time unless immediate measures are taken to check the erosion.

Three government primary schools in Kachipara Union are facing serious threats from erosion along the Karkhana River, while another school is at risk due to erosion along the Tentulia River.

During a recent visit, this correspondent found that Char Raghunuddin Government Primary School in the Baherchar Bandar area is only around 20-25 feet from the bank of the Karkhana River. 

Hissajat Government Primary School is around 70-80 feet away, while West Kachipara Government Primary School in the Gopalia Bazar area is about 50 feet from the riverbank.

Nimdi Government Primary School is also facing the threat of erosion from the Tentulia River.

Residents said continued erosion could disrupt the education of hundreds of students and force the authorities to relocate the schools.

They urged the government to take immediate steps to protect the riverbanks and prevent further erosion.

Sunil Chandra Das, headteacher of West Kachipara Government Primary School, said the institution was in an extremely vulnerable position.

“The Water Development Board dumped sandbags here last year, which helped control the erosion for some time. But the erosion intensified again about a month ago,” he said.

He said a mosque, a market and the school could be affected if immediate measures were not taken.

“If the erosion continues, students’ education will be disrupted. There is also no suitable land nearby to construct a new school building,” Sunil said.

The situation has already forced authorities to consider alternative arrangements for another school in the upazila.

According to the upazila education office, Char Basudebpasha Government Primary School in Dhulia Union has already been washed away due to erosion along the Tentulia River.

As Nimdi Government Primary School is also under threat, a new school building has been planned at an alternative location, officials said.

They added that the authorities concerned had been informed about the risks facing the three schools in Kachipara Union.

Patuakhali District Education Officer Masud Karim said schools located near riverbanks serve an important role during natural disasters as they are often used as shelters.

“It is therefore extremely important to construct permanent embankments in vulnerable areas to prevent river erosion,” he said.
He said senior officials of the Water Development Board had been informed about the severity of erosion in Kachipara and Nazirpur unions.

Mohammad Shahnewaz Talukder, Executive Engineer of the Patuakhali Water Development Board, said necessary measures would be taken to control the erosion.

“Sandbags need to be dumped using a barge in the erosion-hit areas. This will allow the bags to be placed properly on top of one another and ensure more durable protection,” he said.

A barge is currently operating on the Payra River, and arrangements would be made to bring it to the affected areas to dump sandbags, he added.

“We do not want to dump the sandbags from trawlers because tidal fluctuations make it difficult to determine exactly where the bags are landing,” Shahnewaz said.

Meanwhile, residents said the situation could worsen during high tides and heavy rainfall. They urged the authorities to begin riverbank protection work without delay, saying any further erosion could put the schools, nearby markets, mosques and residential areas at immediate risk.