Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project

Overall all households have sanitary toilet but 90% tubewell water are found Arsenic contaminated.There are primary school and high school. Field investigation also indicated that mosques andmadrasas are present. Adjacent to the proposed landing site a large char is developed along the PadmaRiver within Lauhajang, Dheutia and Kumarbhog unions. This char area is inundated during monsoonbut during dry season approximate 20-25 families used to live on the Charland temporarily. Economiccondition of this people is not good. Paddy, potatoes and nut are major crops in the Charland. Upstreamof this location Srinagar bazar area was flooded during 1988 and 1998 flood and existing road wasinundated up to about 1.0 m. The flood duration was about 1.5 month. A khal/canal passes near thebazar area and join with the Padma River about 6 km downstream. The major crops are Irri rice, Amanrice and vegetables. There are isolated bank erosions in the upstream close to the Jashaldia andKabutarkhola in the left bank. However, left bank is more stable compared with the right bank.13. Janjira landing site is located at Majhirkandi village, Piyenpara mauza, Purbo Naodoba union,Janjira upazila under Shariatpur district. Along the riverbanks the villages are eroding each year by thePadma bank erosion. Tidal influence in this area is about 6 inches between high and low tides. Localpeople are poor and destitute due to riverbank erosion. A few settlements are grown up here. Fieldinvestigation indicated that a few households have sanitation toilets. Major crops are chilly, tomato,paddy and nut. Bangladesh Forest Department and some NGOs are started afforestationprogram/community forestation along the riverbanks. During 1988 and 1998 flood, all homesteads andlands were inundated about 1.0m. The flood duration was about 1.0 month.6.4.1.2 Paturia-Goalundo Site14. The Paturia landing site is situated about 2 km downstream from the Paturia ferry crossing invillages named Dorikandi and Noakandi, at Arua union under Shibalaya upazila in Manikganj district.Proposed landing site is marked about 1 and half km away from main river stream. Dorikhandi khal islocated near the river and Ichamati River is located at about 0.5 km east side and connected with themain Padma stream at about 15 km downstream. Low lying inundated agricultural floodplain landsobserved along the main river. Major cropping pattern is paddy (IRRI rice), nut, potatoes and vegetable.Farming is main occupation of the people in this area. An old mosque is located at a close distance fromthe marked pillar of the proposed site. A number of homesteads are developed within the village. A fewHindu families are living in this village and two temples are observed. There is no high school or college.Only one primary school is located about 1 km away from the proposed site. Sanitary toilet was notfound in any homestead within the village. Some tubewell waters are identified as Arseniccontaminated. Dense vegetation, homestead trees (fruit and timber), bamboo bush, date fruit are grownwithin the area. During 1988 and 1998 flood all villages was inundated under about 0.75 m water. Theflood duration was about 3.0 months. Except rural kacha road, no other road is present in this area. Itwas informed that huge number of migratory birds comes to this place and there is a Natural ResourcesManagement Project in this area operated by International Conservation Union (IUCN). Paturia side ismore erosion prone.15. The Gualundo landing site is located at Hasenmollapara village and Uttar Daulatdia village, CharDauladia union in Gualundo upazila under Rajbari district. This site is about 3 km away from Gualundoferry crossing. During field visit the Padma River is found about 2 and half km away from this village.One large wetland (beel) is located in between this village and Padma River bank char. The main riverstream is behind this char. This Charland is cultivable. Major crops are Irri rice, Aman rice, nut andvegetables. There is no primary school, high school, college, mosque and other religious institutionwithin the area. One primary school is located far away at Gualundo growth center. Agriculture is mainoccupation of the people in this area. Some people are involved in rickshaw pulling and small businesssuch as grocery shops, stationary shops and restaurants at the Gualundo ferry ghat. Sanitary toilet isnot found in any homestead within the village. Five percent of the tubewell water is identified as Arseniccontamination. The area was flooded during 1988 and 1998 flood, the earthen road near this location(village approach road) was inundated about 1.5 m and flood duration was about 2.0 months. Usuallythe area flooded every year during monsoon and inundated about 0.5 m. About 12 km long BWDBembankment is located 4 km away from the proposed site at Gualundo. There are signs of erosion inGoalundo side, but the rate of erosion has been slowed down.16. At the conclusion of the various physical, technical, hydraulic, transport, and socio-environmentalstudies, the Feasibility Study Team decided in favor of Mawa-Janjira over Paturia-Goalundo as the final6-9