Unabated Erosion Poses Serious Threat To Betagaon In Baksa District

A CORRESPONDENT

GORESWAR: Severe erosion has been going on since the past few days at Betagaon village under Tamulpur civil subdivision in Baksa district, posing serious threat to the existence of the local people there.

Unabated erosion has taken a serious turn at Betagaon due to incessant rain during the last couple of days at Suklai–Serfang BTC constituency in Baksa district of BTAD. The local people of Betagaon expressed apprehension that if the erosion continues at this rate, the entire area is likely to disappear into the womb of River Puthimari.

According to locals, since the beginning of this year’s rainfall, land erosion at Betagaon has been going on and Sudhan Barman, Ram Barman and Narayan Barman lost their houses due to the unabated erosion of River Puthimari. Besides, several bighas of land along with valuable trees and plants in the courtyards of Bichitra Barman, Kartik Barman, Purna Barman, Joydev Barman, Nagen Barman, Chital Shil, Niranjan Shil, Basu Shil and Anukul Das have been washed away.

As compensation, the families who lost everything due to erosion of the Puthimari River received only a bundle of tin to make temporary dwelling houses from the BTC authorities but not a single penny has been given as compensation by the State Government till date.

The locals alleged that though the authorities concerned were informed on time about the wrath of the River Puthimari, they did not pay any attention to the erosion problem. The local people are taking erosion-preventive measures on their own by erecting bamboo bars in the affected area.

The local residents have once again urged the State Government agencies to take immediate action to save the people of Betagaon village in Baksa district.

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