Friday, June 24, 2011

Erosion of river embankments left people scared

BALASORE: Even as the flood waters have receded in northern parts of Balasore, erosion of river embankments has left people scared. Banks of rivers at many places have eroded due to lack of maintenance and appropriate measures to protect them.

Sources said massive erosion of the embankments of Subarnarekha has been reported from Sekhabad, Gobarghata, Mankidia, Gobardhanpur, Baiganbadia, Kirtania, Kantapal and Mohammadpur areas.

Locals said large patches of the riverbed have been eroded in the flood water current. Every year the river is eating into land mass and moving closer to the residential areas.

While the focus has been only on sea erosion, riverbank erosion could be the largest displacement factor, they pointed out.

The condition of embankments in Budhabalanga, Jalaka and Kansabansa rivers is no better. Erosion and landslides on the Budhabalanga embankment have assumed alarming proportion and are giving nightmare to people in scores of villages in Balasore. “Forget about monsoon, we are even scared in summer. The river which gets reverse water from sea has eroded more than 2 km patch in Old Balasore area putting people’s lives under threat,” said Judhisthir Jena, a resident.


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