Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna registered a historic win in the Sitarganj Assembly constituency bypoll last July, giving a huge blow to the BJP twice — first by getting this seat from BJP MlA Kiran Mandal vacated and then by defeating the Opposition party in the same seat which was till then considered the BJP’s stronghold and promised the electorate at least to resolve burning local issues like floods on priority basis.
However, this July, history in this Assembly constituency of the terai region of Uttarakhand which is known for its huge agricultural and industrial potential, was repeated again not for any good reasons, but to show only the same lackadaisical approach of the leaders - making promises with little execution on the ground. And that happened again in this now VIP assembly constituency which the people of Sitarganj had feared the most - floods.
Damage to the embankment of the local Baigul river has flooded most parts of the Sitarganj Assembly constituency. With rainy conditions continuing in many parts of the region since Sunday morning, the flood situation has only become grim, causing huge loss to crops and properties.
“It is not only monetary loss that we have been suffering for years, but also emotional loss as we are closely attached with our crops,” said Harnam Singh, a local farmer, regretting how the poor arrangements to manage floods, has now led to devastation of crops and properties in such a large scale. “Though we had also taken some small flood protection steps at our level by creating passes to ensure smooth passage of water, who has won the battle against nature’s furyIJ” he wondered. Keeping in view the gravity of the flood situation in his constituency, the Chief Minister had already conducted aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of this region, including Sitarganj, asking officials concerned of the district administration Udham Singh Nagar, to take all the necessary measures to manage the flood situation. Saying that saving lives and properties of people was the top priority of the Government, he directed the officials concerned to acquire the land of the farmers if need be to protect the lives and properties of the people.
“But the time is up. Damage has been done particularly to the crops and properties on a massive scale. The relief amount that the Government grants can’t compensate the loss we have suffered,” Harnam Singh further said.
Apart from Baigul river, another local river Sukhi Nadi has also created similar situation in many areas like Keshawnagar ward-6, Ratan Farma, affecting over 1,500 people as officials concerned of the Udham Singh Nagar district administration have said. Besides, floods due to increasing water level of Gola river in Haldwani, have also affected lives and properties in lower areas like Bindukhatta and its adjacent areas.
“However, apart from the Chief Minister, other public representatives are now visiting the flood affected areas of this terai region. But these aerial or ground visits won’t make any difference in our life,” said the affected families here.
“To put in place adequate flood protection measures particularly in populated areas always remains our top priority.” For example, loss to lives and properties in Dharchual located on the bank of the Kali River in Pithoragarh which is one of the most populated part of the border district, is less as compared to what we have witnessed in remote areas. “That could be possible only because we tried to do as much flood protection works as much we could with our available resources wherever it was necessary,” DC Singh, Chief Engineer (north) State irrigation department, Haldwani, told The Pioneer.