Change of course of river Budhabalanga has become a curse for the riverside villages of Baleswar Sadar block.
Due to change of course of the river while villages under Gopinathpur GP like Manikula, Jagannathpur, Kathpal and Nalkuli are affected, the worst-hit is Nalukuli.
Sources said in the village Nalakuli while about 150 families were residing before few years, yet only 51 of them are still residing in the village in the fear that the nature of river is eating into land from one side and filling (deposition) in other.
The residents said the Budhabalanga has devoured their village land. The river has entered into the village by about 50 meters. In the fear of losing their kuchha houses, several residents have fled and settled elsewhere. The villagers said that before several years while one village Bhimadia was existing in the opposite side of the riverbank, it has perished when the river was devouring land patches from other sides.
The residents of Nalakuli alleged that due to the apathy of the department, they are bearing the brunt of change of course of river Budhablanga. The department didn’t take measures like stone-patching, resulting in the erosion of land.
Superintending Engineer, Irrigation, Niranjan Mahalik said the department is aware of the situation at Nalakuli and appropriate action would be taken.
He said soon a survey would be conducted by a technical team and a report would be placed before the Nabard recommending stone-patching to protect the riverbank.