Silchar: Protest erupts in Bethukandi, 300 homes still under water before Eid, Sluice Gates stuck

The Barak River crossed the danger level this year on May 29 between 2 to 3 PM. Tension gripped urban Silchar fearing a repeat of the 2022 floods. Later when the news of the Bethukandi sluice gate’s malfunction spread like wildfire, many people of the Bethukandi, Kanakpur and various other areas near the Bank of the river left their homes in search of higher uplands, where they could spend the days of flood. Before the closure of the sluice gate’s shutter water had entered the Mahisha Beel and inundated over 300 homes in Bethukandi, Berenga Part III, Kararpar and several other areas. On June 2 after 3 PM, the water fell down under the danger level. But the water of Mahisha Beel is stagnant with no exit route and people suffer under the water with knee-deep water levels.

When the sluice gate of Bethukani dyke malfunctioned, the Water Resources Department had to dump heavy geo bags to close the shutter. On May 30, the dyke was finally shut after dumping geo bags and an iron shaft and the department gathered appreciation for saving the urban areas from being inundated like the previous floods of 2022. But since June 2 the water level of Barak River as measured at the Annapurna Ghat by the Flood Control Cell, kept falling. The current water level of River Barak at Annapurna Ghat is 15.62 mtrs at 11 AM (June 12) which is 3.21 mtrs below the warning level. In simple words, Barak River’s water level doesn’t pose any threat of floods with the present conditions.

But since the forced closed shutters of the dykes can’t be opened, several houses on the other side of the embankment in Bethukandi and Kararpar are still underwater. More than 300 families are still affected by this. Most of the areas of Cachar are now free from the floods, but not the people of Bethukandi-Kararpar. They are residing in homes where there is knee-deep water and even higher.

Frustrated and desperate, the affected residents took to the streets this morning, blocking the Bethukandi road leading to the dyke. With placards and slogans, they demanded immediate action from the authorities. One protester, holding a sign that read “Won’t accept these low games with the sluice gate,” voiced the community’s anguish, stating, “More than 300 to 400 families are affected. We are really sad that our mothers and sisters today have to come out to the streets to make our demands heard. We are helpless. When the sluice gate was not working, DC Cachar made hourly visits to ensure the work was done properly, but now that there is no flood in the urban areas and we are still the worst sufferers, the DC has not even expressed his concern on this. If the sluice gate was opened just for two days, our homes could be saved from the waterlogging.”

The protestors highlighted the corruption and mismanagement involved in the maintenance of the Bethukandi dyke. “Now this area is becoming a money-minting machine. It’s not a dyke anymore,” a local resident lamented. They criticized the use of sticky laterite soil in the geo bags instead of sand, which would have allowed for easier removal and drainage. “Its Wednesday, and currently it is 11 AM, it’s not a holiday today, but you won’t see any employee of the department here. When our people volunteered to help, they didn’t allow us to clear the entrance. It has been ten days that they can’t remove the 5 to 6 geo bags. This problem comes before Eid, but they don’t care about us”, he said further

With Eid approaching this Sunday, the predominantly Muslim residents are disheartened at the prospect of celebrating the festival in flooded homes. Recalling the hardships of the previous year, one resident expressed concern for the children, saying, “We have just two festivals in a year and if our children have to spend one of them underwater, how do we explain this to them?” In 2022 as well, the residents of this area celebrated a rather subdued Eid on the roads after they had to stay out of their homes for more than 22 days owing to the flood.

The protesters warned of escalating their movement if the sluice gate issue is not resolved within the next two days. They called on the district administration and the Water Resources Department to take immediate action to alleviate their plight and prevent further suffering.

As the situation remains dire for the residents of Bethukandi and Kararpar, the community’s resilience and unity shine through their determined efforts to seek justice and relief. The authorities are urged to address the issue promptly to restore normalcy and ensure a safe and joyous Eid for all affected families.