Erosion of Torsa in Cooch Behar

 

COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 2: Widespread erosion of Torsa river turned a nightmare to the residents of a vast area in Cooch Behar-II block. Cultivable lands and many dwelling houses were washed away during the recent past.

 

The building of Gaddarpar Fourth Plan Primary School at Jatrapur of Takagachh-Rajarhat Gram Panchayat area was gobbled up by Torsa river on Thursday night. Now it became uncertain for more than one hundred students of the area to continue their study. Cooch Behar District Primary School Council sources said they had intimated the district administration and also the irrigation division in advance about the danger of erosion caused by the swelling Torsa. Now they will have to ask the teachers of that school to function from nearby schools till a new school building comes up.

 

Erosion of Torsa is a round-the-year phenomenon in Cooch Behar-II block especially in Takagachh-Rajarhat Gram Panchayat area. The Torsa gobbled up a few hundred bighas of farmland and about ten dwelling houses in last week. In a bid to save the school building the Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad had initiated an anti-erosion work a few days ago but that failed to save the school. The building of the Gaddarpar Fourth Plan Primary School was erected with funds from District Primary Education Programme and Sarva Shiksha Mission in 2003. The Torsa started approaching towards it about two years ago. Apprehending danger the situation was intimated to the authorities concerned but the Torsa denied sparing it. []