Gandak water enters several panchayats in W Champaran damaging crops

Speed Post News Network

Bagaha: Several rivers including Gandak, Bhapsa, Jhikeri and Kosil and Masan are in spate due to incessant rains during last 20 hours. Flood water has entered Gandak riverine area of Semara- labdeha, Manjharia, Piparasi and Sauraha panchayats under Piparasi block,  Madhubani, Sisahi and Chiurahi panchayats under Madhubani block, Semarbari and Manpur panchayat under Bhitaha block, Shrinagar and Dhumnagar panchayat under Thakaraha block in West Champaran district.

With flood water entering agriculrural fields standing crops including Paddy, Arhar, Sugarcane and Maize on  thousands of hectares are getting damaged. Heavy and incessant rain for last 20 hours has turned Bagaha Nagar Parishad into a veritable hell due to waterlogging. Principal Secretary, Environment and Forest, and Disaster management and flood control incharge West Champaran Vivek kumar Singh on July 18 held a meeting with all district officials including DM Lokesh Kumar  at Vikas Bhawan, Bettiah, and reviewed the flood situation in West Champaran district.

On Friday, a report reached Bagaha from Gandak barrage at Valmikinagar on Indo-Nepal border said that the barrage iron gates had developed snag making it impossible to lift them. The shutter number 33  became non-functional on Thursday night due current of the Gandak water. A former Mukhiya of Valmikinagar alleged that poor maintenance of the Gandak barrage has led to this situation. It may be mentioned here that barrage gates repair work was awarded to a Patna firm at a cost of Rs.12 lakh.

When state water and resources minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan  Singh had come to inspect the barrage, he had directed the to complete the work before June 30, 2016, but it remained incomplete. An assistant engineer of Gandak barrage Subhodh K Sharma said that he had earlier sent amessage to higher officials about the situation at barrage. On Friday morning, when a Gandak barrage shutter (33 ) was being lifted, power got disconnected and the current of the river detached the shutter from the rope and the  gate collapsed, said Superintending Engineer, works circle, Valmikinagar. After coming to know about the discharge of 2,54,000 lakh cusec water into Gandak, West Champaran district administration has  alerted all circle officers (COs) and BDOs to be ready to tackle any eventuality. Gandak diara residents in low lying areas have been shifted to safer places.