Alipurduar, 18th July: The Irrigation Minister, Partha Bhowmick, arrived in Alipurduar to assess the flood situation in North Bengal. His first visit was to the Sisamara River dam attached to Jaldapara in Alipurduar Block-I. Subsequently, the minister proceeded to the Kalchini block. In Kalchini, he inspected the Gobarjadi bridge at the Bhutan border and the Basra River dam in the Alipurduar district, reviewing various aspects of the situation.
During the visit, the minister expressed concern about the unscientific cutting of hills by Bhutan, which results in water from Bhutan entering the Alipurduar district. He highlighted the lack of a plan regarding the water flow and its impact on the submerged areas of Alipurduar district. The minister also criticised the central government for not engaging in any discussions with Bhutan regarding this matter.