JHANG: The continuous land erosion by the rampaging currents of the River Jhelum has devoured thousands of acres of fertile farms in scores of villages over the last six to seven months.

The river is now fast approaching the populated settlements along the riverside and if no immediate measure is taken, several hundred houses may come under the water, said an apprehensive villager, hailing from the affected area.

The villages facing the wrath of ever advancing menace include Machiwal, Chohan, Sajhar, Dosa, Chak Aliana, Kot Maldev, Dhabi Balochan, Kharal and Munday Syed.

Villagers told Dawn that slow but steady erosion for the last 15 years at regular intervals had eaten up acre after acre. Its onslaught is broken at times but the erosion attack returns with even greater thrusts after the periods of lull.

They said over the years, school buildings, dispensaries, mosques, besides dwellings have become a permanent part of the river.

They said successive federal and provincial governments as well as district administration paid no attention to the burning issue.

The only solution to the problem, according to the inhabitants of the devastated area, is the construction of strong dykes on either bank. They demanded that the chief minister and irrigation department authorities take immediate measures for the construction of dykes to save their land and houses.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2020