River erosion deteriorates in Cooch Behar

 

COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 11: Following receding of water levels of the rivers the erosion problem is getting worse in different areas in Cooch Behar district. Admitting the menace the administrative officials said that commencement of anti-erosion work is not possible at this moment. They however maintained that in a few cases only anti-erosion work was initiated as an emergency move.

 

During the ongoing monsoon heavy downpour occurred at the upper catchment areas on Bhutan Hills and also on the plains. This inflated the hilly rivers. A number of embankments were breached and floodwater entered into the villages. A large number of people are still in the relief camps. It is a problem for many to get back to their dwelling houses because the floods rendered them homeless.

 

Rivers like Torsa, Teesta, Kaljani, Mansai, Sankosh, Gadadhar, Sutunga, Dharla, Singijani and others are responsible for widespread erosion in Cooch Behar district. The rivers have gobbled up vast areas of farmland, dwelling houses and trees in Gitaldaha, Dawaguri, Kuchlibari, Khapaidanga, Jatrapur, Maruganj and other villages. Many panic stricken residents are fleeing from their villages with dismantled houses and trees cut down to pieces.

 

In Mekhliganj, erosion of the Teesta caused panic at Kuchlibari, Tista-payosthi, Hussener-tari and other villages. The Singijani too grasped a large area of cultivable land at Gitaldaha in Dinhata. The Torsa is playing a disastrous role in villages like Dawaguri, Jatrapur, Madhupur, Takagachh, Rajarhat, and Kaminirghat. The river erosion has grabbed a large area of cultivation in these villages. Erosion of the Kaljani and the Gadadhar too unleashed a reign of terror at Bhuchungmari, Bhairaber-tari, Panisala, Balabhut, Balarampur, Nakkatigachh, Chilakhana and adjoining villages. The Sutunga and the Mansai rivers have grabbed vast areas of farmland in Mathabhanga.

 

In Alipurduar subdivision of Jalpaiguri, erosion caused by the Dudua river damaged the Dhupguri-Falakata road. Three lorries loaded with goods overturned on this road yesterday. In Dhanirampur Gram Panchayat area of Falakata the Koli river is approaching towards Sarugaon-Shisabari road. Erosion of the Dudua started at Promodnagar and Notahara under Guwabarnagar Gram Panchayat area. This river already grabbed a large area of cultivation at Karjipara and Jhar-Salbari villages. Collapsing of many dwelling houses made a large section of people homeless in this region during the past few days. []   

Quest programme held

 

COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 11: Lions Club of Cooch Behar Greater (LCCG) organised a workshop named "Quest" on the problems of teenaged boys and girls in their adolescence period at Cooch Behar today. Students of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan High School and Kendriya Vidyalaya participated in the programme. The chairperson of Quest programme Mr Jitendra Mittal was the chief speaker. Mr Ranesh Roy Talukdar and other LCCG members attended the programme.

 

The programme was organised in a bid to help the school students from the problems of adolescence. DC (Public Relations) of LCCG, Mrs Dipanwita Roy said that they organised the programme to help the teenagers. In this changing social system the teenagers are suffering from various stress related problems. They have to cope with the competitive world surrounding them. Uncertainty and pessimistic thoughts are pushing them to the dark, and many of them taking up drugs to evade from the real world. The Quest programme was chalked out to extend a helping hand to them to grow up with a positive attitude, Mrs Roy said. []

 

'Greater' case hearing

 

COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 11: The district and sessions judge, Cooch Behar, Ms Anindita Roy Saraswati today heard a petition filed on behalf of The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association. Rejecting the petition she ordered 27 November as the next date of hearing. The court was held inside Cooch Behar District Correctional Home today. Fifty-five accused GCPA men were produced at the court.

 

The lawyer of GCPA, Mr Shibendra Nath Roy said that three cases were running at the court against GCPA men. Two policemen were killed on 20 September 2005 at Chakchaka and an ASP was also murdered at the same venue on that date. Hearing of the first case was started on 3 July of this year. Hearing of the second case is yet to start. Mr Roy said they appealed to the court to arrange hearing of these two cases jointly and framing of charges too jointly because the two incidents were occurred at the same venue and at the same time. Hearing the arguments the judge has rejected the petition and fixed 27 November as the next date of hearing, Mr Roy said. []