Panic in Malincha Village Due to Erosion of Subarnarekha, Homesteads and Agricultural Land Lost to River; Demand for Permanent Dam Construction
Jhargram, Correspondent:
Due to continuous rainfall, the water level of the Subarnarekha River has risen, leading to extensive riverbank erosion in Malincha village of Jhargram district's Gobindopur-2 block. Vast agricultural lands, trees, and several homesteads have already been submerged. Many houses are precariously situated on the riverbank, causing residents to live in fear.
According to local sources, the water level of the Subarnarekha River has rapidly increased due to several days of continuous rain. This has caused the riverbank to start collapsing. Many farmers have lost their agricultural land due to the severity of the erosion. Houses located right by the river are also now at risk of being eroded.
Villagers complain that every year, when the monsoon arrives, various parties assure them of measures to prevent riverbank erosion, but no permanent solutions are ever implemented. Once the monsoon ends, the issue loses administrative importance. As a result, the people of Malincha village have been suffering the same plight year after year.
Locals claim that illegal sand extraction from the Subarnarekha River for a long time has disrupted the river's natural flow and ecological balance. The riverbed has deepened and the bank soil has weakened, leading to increased erosion every monsoon. They believe that if illegal sand extraction is not stopped immediately, the situation could become even more dire in the future.
Due to riverbank erosion, not only land and houses but also the livelihoods of many families are at risk. Many have already started moving important documents and valuable items to safer places. Residents are spending sleepless nights in fear of the sound of the riverbank collapsing in the darkness.
Meanwhile, to assess the situation, Tapas Sui, president of the BJP's Nayagram 5 Mandal, recently visited Malincha village. He spoke with the affected families and listened to their problems. He also assured them that he would bring the matter to the attention of higher authorities and take necessary steps to demand a permanent solution.
Currently, the people of Malincha village have one demand—rapid construction of a permanent dam on the banks of the Subarnarekha River and a complete halt to illegal sand extraction. They fear that if immediate action is not taken, many more houses, agricultural lands, and settlements could be swallowed by the river in the future.
