MONSOON ARRIVES

Old dykes : Mathabhanga in danger

The sub-divisional town of Mathabhanga is suffering from fear of floods. The embankments of the Mansai and the Sutunga are saving the town for years from the inflated rivers. But, encroachers now occupy a large stretch of these embankments. Political blame game is on but no visible initiative has been taken yet to save the citizens of the town during the monsoon.

Embankments as long as about 5-kilometre are protecting the town from the Mansai and the Sutunga. No maintenance was done for a long to strengthen the embankments. Encroachers captured the dyke upto Shaktinagar Colony in Ward Number 3 of the town along the Sutunga. They breached the embankment to make dwellings and dug out huge volume of earth. The situation is similar at Ward Number 2 along the embankment of the Mansai. The irresponsible act made the embankments weak and it is inviting disaster to the town and the residents.

A senior irrigation division official said the department needs co-operation of the civic body and the administration to make the embankments encroachment free. He however assured that there is no fear of any danger as the irrigation personnel keep regular watch on the embankments that are saving the town.

District Trinamul Congress vice-president Mr Girindra Nath Barman alleged that the CPI-M is providing shelter to the illegal occupants only to keep their vote-bank intact. The number of encroachers is increasing under the CPI-M's encouragement, he alleged. But, the embankments should be cleared and properly renovated in the greater interest of the citizens of the town, Mr Barman opined.

Another Trinamul Congress leader, Mr Shibendra Nath Roy demanded that the embankments should be cleared of any encroachment. As there exists no arrangement of illumination along the embankments the area has turned into den of miscreants and anti-social elements, he alleged. The civic body should take notice of the situation, he opined.

The chairman of Mathabhanga Municipality Mr Arun Chaudhury said the irrigation division is the caretaker of these embankments. They were asked several times to evict the illegal encroachers but they did nothing. If they take any initiative to clear and strengthen the embankments the civic body would extend helping hands, he said.

Mr Chaudhury, who is also a senior CPI-M leader, denied that the CPI-M was providing shelter to the encroachers in political interest.