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Incessant rain inundates low-lying areas of Barpeta dist

By Correspondent

BARPETA, June 20 - Incessant rain for the last few days has inundated all the low-lying areas of the district and as the rivers flowing through the district show rising trend, the situation is likely to worsen in the days to come.

Flood waters of Burhadia river has entered through the broken embankment at Kalatali and submerged several villages under Sarthebari revenue circle of the district. The embankment of the river was washed away during the devastating floods in 2012 but the Water Resource department did not repair it putting the lives and properties of the people of that area at stake.

The Deputy Commissioner of the district informed this correspondent that barring some minor works, all the breaches of the embankments in the district have been plugged. But he expressed his apprehension that some embankments may not work properly due to some reason.

Moreover, the ongoing erosion has created havoc in some embankments and roads protecting outward flow from the river. Though the embankment at Bardanga has been plugged and it is safe for now, the portion of PMGSY road that has been working as the safeguard in that area has faced threats from the continuous erosion of Beki. Similarly, the Barpetaroad Bansbari road has also faced threats from erosion.

The executive engineer of the PWD (Roads), Barpeta division has also expressed the view that a stretch of the road at Safakamar may not be able to protect itself this year as the erosion of Beki has turned serious there.

He informed that the responsibility of preventing erosion lies with the Water Resource department. Though the PWD (R) undertakes measures to protect its roads, it can not do the same in a large number. As the stretch of the road facing erosion at Safakamar is very long, it is not possible for the PWD (R) to undertake any scheme there.

The Deputy Commissioner further stated that some schemes to check erosion have been undertaken under MGNREGA by the rural development agencies of the district. But it is also not possible to perform on a large scale as it also violates guidelines.

Meanwhile, the district administration has kept a strict vigil on the likely situation to be created by flood in the district. The administration in collaboration with the District Disaster Management Authority has completed mock exercises for rescue and relief operations in almost all the areas of the district. They have identified vulnerable areas and the places where relief camps are to be set up in case of emergency.

An amount of Rs 1 crore has been received in advance to carry out relief operations. Besides, an amount of Rs 10 crore has been received for payment of compensation to those who had lost their dwelling houses during natural calamities during the recent years. Relief committees have been formed in the subdivisions and circle office level.

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