Trinamool Congress stage protest demanding immediate repair of embankments and sluice gates in Cachar district

Silchar faced devastating floods twice in a row last year, leaving many homes uninhabitable for days. The floods were so severe that the city’s electricity was cut off for several days to prevent electrocution. Boats became the primary mode of transportation as roads became inaccessible. The main reason for the floods was a breach in the Bethukandi embankment that occurred in May last year. As a result, the water level rose, and almost the entire city got inundated.

The Chief Minister of Assam, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, ordered a thorough investigation to uncover those responsible for the damage caused by arguably one of the worst floods in Silchar’s history. The police arrested four individuals in connection with the damage to the embankment in Bethukandi. However, a year later, the embankment is yet to be repaired, leaving the city at risk of another flooding disaster.

In a recent cabinet meeting held in Barak Valley, a special package of Rs. 59 crores was allocated for the repair of the Bethukandi embankment, but the work has not yet started. The rainy season is expected to begin next month, and there is a high possibility of the city’s homes being inundated once again.

The Cachar district Trinamool Congress Committee held a dharna today from 10 am to 1 pm in Bethukandi demanding immediate repair of the Bethukandi embankment as well as all other embankments of Cachar district. They demanded that all embankments and sluice gates in Cachar which were damaged due to floods last year should be repaired. The air echoed with slogans like “Ekhon obdi nodi badh songskar holo na keno joban chai jobab deo,” “Rajdeep Roy murdabad,” “BJP sorkar nipat jaak.”

Cachar Trinamool President Rajesh Dev told reporters, “People of Cachar and Silchar town faced a lot of damage due to devastating floods last year. In the cabinet meeting, funds were allotted for repairing the embankment at Bethukandi. Unfortunately, it is a matter of great sorrow that despite the Chief Minister’s assurance, the current position of the embankment is likely to result in even more catastrophic floods as the rainy season approaches.”

Dev added, “Today we have sat at a dharna in Bethukandi, and our demand is that all embankments and sluice gates in Cachar which were damaged due to floods last year should be repaired. The Chief Minister, along with Ministers, MLAs, and MPs, made numerous assurances, but regrettably, upon witnessing the ground reality, it became evident that all of those assurances were ultimately false. Our agitation will continue until all the embankments are repaired.”

Speaking to reporters, Sajal Banik, Silchar Town President of Trinamool Congress, said, “It’s been a year since the devastating floods occurred, but we are unable to see any work progress. Our fight will continue. The CM announced 59 crores for repairing the Bethukandi embankment, but we want to know the reason why the work is yet to start. The CM, MLA, MP, and bureaucrats should clarify why the sluice gate at Bethukandi, as well as the other embankments located along the Barak river and its tributaries, are yet to be repaired since the last eight months.”