Siliguri, 25th November: Residents near the Khemchi River in Naxalbari are concerned over the construction of a concrete wall on the riverbed. They fear that the wall could alter the river’s natural course, causing heightened risk to the nearby areas. The matter has been brought to the attention of the Naxalbari Gram Panchayat.
According to reports, the Khemchi River flows through Raipara in Naxalbari. The river is known to become particularly dangerous during the monsoon, often flooding nearby regions and eroding the land on both banks. Locals have raised concerns that the construction of a wall along the riverbed will obstruct the river’s natural flow and increase flood risks for the surrounding areas.
Local residents, Manoranjan Ghosh and Bikram Ghosh stated that the construction could worsen the flooding situation in the area. The residents have filed a complaint with the Naxalbari Gram Panchayat. Meanwhile, the builder of the wall, Manik Ghosh, defended the project, stating that the land along the river had been eroded in previous years due to flooding, prompting the construction of the wall to prevent further erosion.
In response, Biswajit Ghosh, the Upa-Pradhan of Naxalbari Gram Panchayat, stated that the construction work had been halted. He added that the irrigation department will be asked to inspect the area and take the necessary steps to address the situation.