BISWANATH CHARIALI, July 8 � The recent floods in Sonitpur district, Biswanath and Naduar revenue circles in particular, has caused massive damage to the economy of the district. The worst-affected sectors in the flood are agriculture, fishery and animal husbandry. Properties worth crores of rupees were totally washed away or damaged by the flood.
IT may be mentioned here that Kumalia, Sholmari, Karoini, Adabheti etc., villages, the river islands of the river Brahmaputra and the nearby villages of the Biswanathghat - Panpur dyke are known as the �hub� of agricultural produce in Biswanath and Naduar revenue circles. Various kinds of vegetables worth thousands of rupees are brought to market everyday from the above mentioned places. Total destruction of these produce has nowadays resulted in sky high rise in prices and vegetables are now available in markets at prices ranging from Rs 50 to 200 per kilogram.
The second worst affected sector is fishery. According to the sources of the Department of Fishery, around 21.4 hectares of fishery land belonging to 58 fish mongers were submerged by flood water under Biswanath subdivision. Hundreds of fish mongers of areas like Sootea, Nagshanker, Jamugurihat, Biswanathghat etc., were also badly affected. Most of them had started their ventures taking huge loans from banks and other sources, but these people have nothing in their hands now to repay their loans.
Alongwith the fisheries, most of the educated youths like Dadul Borah, Ujjal Hazarika, Abhijit Hazarika, Abdul Kalam had started poultry and animal husbandry in these areas. The breach in the Biswanathghat-Panpur dyke ruined their dreams overnight. They had even generated employment to some other needy and poor people by engaging them in the farms. On the other hand, the flood damaged the dairy farms, too. Hundreds of people had been rearing cattle in the char-chaparis in those areas. But the sudden flood washed away thousands of cattle leaving the dairy farmers at distress. As a result, the residents of Biswanath and Sootea have been forced to face acute shortage of milk and other milk products these days.
These affected people have now been awaiting for government help as they are totally pennyless and helpless. They have urged the bank authorities, too, to waive the bank loans.
