Erosion hits Padma bridge site

Around 80 square metre land of the Padma bridge construction yard was eroded by strong currents in the Padma at Kumarbhog of Munshiganj yesterday. The erosion damaged two jetties and some construction equipment.

It was the second incident of erosion at the bridge construction site in the last four days. The erosion was caused by strong currents and rising water levels in the river, said officials of the Padma bridge project.

Large portions of two jetties at Padma bridge construction yard are eroded.

Over 10,000 square metre land on the river bank has been wiped out since Sunday night. Two out of three jetties of the project have been damaged. Those were used for transporting construction materials from the shore to the mid river and beyond.

The erosion also devoured the road leading to the jetties, a concrete mixing plant and rails, disrupting construction work, added the officials.

Construction materials devoured, by strong currents.

Seeking anonymity, an executive engineer of the project said they took prompt measures to keep the damage to a minimal. He hoped that they would be able to repair the technical damages in around two weeks.

The project authorities put sandbags and bamboo poles on the bank to contain the erosion. But their attempt proved futile.

A trawler carrying sandbags sunk in the river yesterday. Around a dozen workers, who boarded the vessel, managed to swim ashore safely, but the trawler could not be salvaged, said Yunus, in-charge of Mawa Police Camp.

Talking to The Daily Star last evening, Project Director Shafiqul Islam said he was not aware of the erosion or damage.

Workers, were seen trying to stop the erosion by putting sandbags on the banks, but to little use. The photos were taken yesterday.

FERRY SERVICE DISRUPTED
The ferry service on Shimulia-Kawrakandi route has slowed almost to a halt in the last six days due to poor navigability caused by sedimentation, said sources at Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation.

Witnesses said around 400 vehicles were stranded on both sides of the river at 4:00pm yesterday. Passengers, drivers and staff of the vehicles suffered a lot due to the inordinate delay in service.

The BIWTA and Bangladesh Bridges Authority yesterday deployed a dredger to improve navigability through the route which is considered the gateway to 21 southern districts. The existing dredgers could not be operated smoothly due to strong currents.

daily star

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