BARPETA, June 10 � The flood situation in some parts of Barpeta district has turned critical and lakhs of people under Barpeta and Sarthebari revenue circles have been affected for about a fortnight now.
Paddy cultivation in most parts of the district has suffered as the farmers could not harvest the eri variety due to the floods. Though the farmers are trying hard to harvest it, they have not been able to do so due to the lack of labourers. As the demand of labour does not commensurate with the supply at this point of the crisis, wages have risen exorbitantly. It is learnt that the daily wage of a labourer has gone up to Rs 800 in some areas. Scenes of farmers collecting crops from the deep waters will arouse sympathy in any person.
Moreover, the low-lying areas where the bao paddy has been sown, have been inundated foretelling a bleak future for the economy of the district. It is also the peak time for preparing the seed bed for sali paddy. But most of the farmers have not been able to do so as the land where the seed beds are prepared has been under water for a long time and there is no end in sight as the downpour is continuing and the water-level of rivers is rising.
Meanwhile, the Burhadia river has broken its embankments at Kalatali and Batia severely affecting several villages under the Sarthebari circle, including parts of Sarthebari town. Kalatali has turned into a floating island as the ring bunds on both the eastern and western sides of the village have been washed away by the strong current of the river. Fisheries in some areas have been washed away which has caused irreparable damage to the farmers concerned. Embankments and dykes of Tihu and Kaldia rivers are in vulnerable positions in several parts compelling the people living in those areas to spend sleepless nights.
But it is a matter of grave concern that no responsible authorities, including the elected representatives, have enquired about the fate of the suffering people.
