The Subarnarekha Sanskar Yojana (SSY), a much-hyped project to address perennial floods during monsoon season here, has become a distant dream despite several promises by successive Governments. The river has been a source of sorrow for the north Baleswar area, scripting miseries for the people of the region year after year.
Alleging apathy of both the State and Central Governments, Congress leader Sudarshan Das said in a press brief in Jaleswar that his party would take the issue to streets across the State.
The region, especially the low-lying pockets of Bhograi and Jaleswar, is the worst sufferer during rainy seasons as it experiences multiple blows attributed to waterlogging for days together due to lack of drainage. The waterlogging miseries compound during monsoon seasons due to accumulation of rainwater of the region, excess rainwater from neighboring Bengal and overflowing of floodwater of the Subarnarekha.
The region including eight gram panchayats (GPs ) of Jaleswar and 18 GPs of Bhograi experience immense difficulties due to the waterlogging.
There are reports that the residents of low-lying pockets of Bhograi are spending their days in manchas due to water inundation after recent floods even after the water level has considerably receded below the warning level.
To resolve the flood issue, there was a proposal for renovation of the Subarnarekha river in 1972. Yet the proposal was pushed to cold storage for a good number of years. It was again actively considered in 2008 after a high flood situation. In that period, several high power technical teams visited the area to assess the prevailing conditions that were impediments to mitigation of the menace.
The recommendations included dredging of the river mouth joining the Bay of Bengal, spur packing and strengthening of embankments etc.