Though the flood situation has improved
in Cooch Behar, there were fresh erosions today on the left
bank of the Ganga at Adarshagram in Malda’s Kaliachak
II block.
Irrigation department officials of Malda fear the erosion
problem would aggravate this week following high velocity
discharge of water through the Ganga.
“Though the area is under the supervision of Farakka
Barrage Project, I have reported the matter to the Malda SDO,
Ms Arunima De, as per the district magistrate’s instruction,”
Mr S Misra, Malda irrigation division executive, said.
“With 24.52-metre water level at Manikchak Ghat in Malda,
the Ganga is discharging 12.50 lakh cusec water today. The
most severe erosion occurs when the discharge rate is between
12.50 lakh cusec and 16 lakh cusec,” Mr Misra said.
The water level in all the major rivers in Cooch Behar has
receded and the people are leaving the relief camps for their
homes in the improved situation, the Cooch Behar district
magistrate, Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha, said today.
According to district officials, 4,947 houses were severely
damaged and 8,972 houses were partially damaged by the floods
in the district. The floods affected 29 gram panchayats in
six blocks distressing more than one lakh people. Many roads
in the rural areas have been damaged.
The agriculture sector has also suffered huge loss. About
10,000 hectares under cultivation were affected and the loss
is estimated at Rs 10 crore. The district has suffered a total
loss of about Rs 21 crore in terms of crop and infrastructure.
According to a zilla parishad report, a fund of Rs 15-crore
is immediately required to keep things going. Political organisations
have started fishing in muddy waters literally. According
to the Cooch Behar district Trinamul Congress president, Mr
Rabindra Nath Ghosh, the flood-affected people are now suffering
from lack of food, drinking water and baby food.
He also alleged that the river embankments were being washed
away and the overflowing rivers running through villages.
The flood waters have damaged a large number of houses throughout
the district, rendering people helpless. “They need
work and food, not speeches,” he said.
Demanding arrest and punishment of contractors and officials
concerned with the construction of “inferior”
embankments, Mr Ghosh said his organisation would submit a
memorandum to the state relief minister, Mr Murtaja Hussain,
who is to visit the district on Friday.
Courtesy: The Statesman |
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