Siliguri, July 6 -- In a major relief for residents of Matigara block, Anandamoy Barman, the Minister of State (MoS) for Finance and Transport and MLA of Matigara-Naxalbari on Monday laid the foundation stone for the construction of an embankment along the Balason River, fulfilling a long-standing demand of local people. The project cost is around Rs. 1.45 Crore.
The embankment project has been initiated to address the recurring problems of floods and riverbank erosion that affect villages situated along the Balason River every monsoon. According to residents, rising water levels during the rainy season inundate several houses and cause severe erosion, forcing families to live in fear every year.
Last year, seven houses were washed away by river erosion, and the Balason Bridge sustained damage during the floods a few years ago, underscoring the urgent need for protective measures.
To provide a long-term solution, the government has undertaken the construction of an approximately 650-metre-long embankment along the river. Speaking after the foundation stone-laying ceremony, Anandamoy Barman said: "Earlier, I had also raised these issues in the State Assembly, but the previous government did nothing.
However, our Chief Minister has already instructed the concerned authorities to resolve them. Along with the construction of this embankment, we will also develop the surrounding area, and we are hopeful that no flooding will occur during the next monsoon."
He also assured that the construction work would be closely monitored to ensure its timely completion.
The product quality which will be used in the work will also be monitored.
The commencement of the project has been welcomed by local residents, who expressed relief and hope that the embankment will protect their homes and livelihoods from the annual threat of floods and riverbank erosion.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.