Gandak posing threat to PP embankment in W Champaran

Speed Post News Network

Bagaha: River Gandak is posing threat to 35 km stretch of Piparasi-Pipra (PP) embankment  showing its fury near its bank at Sauraha, Ranglalahi, and Tinferia along Bihar- Uttar Pradesh border in West Champaran district.

The residents of Sauraha, Ranglalahi, and Machhaha panchayat say that Piparasi-Pipra Gandak embankment is the 12th constructed in last 40 years along the right bank of river Gandak, which has been changing its course and levelling the embankments constructed earlier. They said that the river earlier flowed some three to four km away from the sparsely populated villages but after the construction of the PP Gandak embankment four blocks: Piparasi, Madhubani, Bhitaha and Thakaraha in West champaran on the right side of the river, and a large area of Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh, always face the threat of erosion.

The river water is flowing 10 feet away from the embankment at several places. Amawa Khas Gandak embankment, which connects to the PP Gandak embankment, is also posing danger at several points.

Bagaha SDM Ghanshyam Meena, who recently inspected  35 km long pipra-Piparasi embankment, said on May 30, 2018, that there was no boulder stock seen at vulnerable points of embankment. Only sand in Nylon bags were available for fighting flood and erosion.

Meanwhile, the villagers are apprehensive and feel that the embankment may breach at many points this year.JD(U) leader and former MP from Bagaha Kailash Baitha has demanded an inquiry into the issue by a high level committee saying Bihar Government had released enough fund this year to complete embankment at all vulnerable points. The flood control division engineers says this amount is not enough.

SDM Bagaha Ghanshyam Meena said that four blocks have been divided into four zones and the BDOs and COs concerned have been directed to keep adequate stock of foodgrains, countryboats and health department has been asked to keep ready essential medicine  to meet any emergency.

Water Resources minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh is likely to visit PP Gandak embankment and Gandak barrage at Valmikinagar to stock of  the situation.