Among the causes emerging behind the extensive damage from disasters in North Bengal, one of the most important is the obstruction of river flow paths. Standing on the Mahananda bridge in Siliguri city and looking in both directions, the tragic picture of riverbank encroachment becomes evident. Concrete construction along the riverbanks has obstructed the natural flow of the Mahananda. Is it only the Mahananda? The same picture exists on the riverbank of the Sahu river adjacent to Siliguri city. Over the past 10-15 years, settlements have developed along the riverbanks in Krishnanagar, Jaldumurpara, Ghoshpara, Sahudangi, and Porajhar adjacent to Siliguri city.
The allegation is that hundreds of acres of land along the banks of Mahananda, Balasan, Angarijhora, and Sahu rivers have been encroached upon to build multiple houses. Environmentalists fear that the areas will be flooded during heavy rainfall. But who listens to whom? Riverbank encroachment continues. At one time, land mafias had built multiple iron bridges at their own expense to sell government land along the Sahu riverbank. Two years ago, two such bridges were demolished on the Chief Minister's orders. But three bridges still remain. After crossing one such iron bridge to enter Jaldumur Para, a person approached and asked, "Will you buy land?" It became clear that land along the riverbank is being sold openly. The same person informed that the price of one katha of land is two lakh rupees. The same picture exists in Porajhar as well.
Local resident Milan Roy bought two kathas of land four years ago and built a house. The land cost eight lakh rupees. A few days ago, Mahananda water entered at least four hundred homes in that Porajhar. According to sources, the most land has been encroached upon and sold in this Porajhar over the past 10 years. The area falls under the Dabgram-Phulbari assembly constituency. Local BJP MLA Shikha Chattopadhyay says, "Trinamool people have sold river chars and government land." Dhiresh Roy, Trinamool president of Phulbari-1 area, did not deny the matter.
His statement was, "It is true that settlements have been created in many places like this. But at that time neither I nor those who are currently leading were in charge. Those who were in charge, the administration should investigate against them." A member of Jalpaiguri District Panchayat, on condition of anonymity, said, "There are numerous incidents of riverbank encroachment in Rajganj block. I cannot say anything because I am affiliated with a party." Knowing that building settlements on river chars is dangerous, people have bought land extensively from mafias due to the 'greed' of getting land at low prices.
Now residents of Sahudangi, Porajhar, Adhikarpolli, and Jyotirmoy Colony suffer daily from the fear of flooding. Milan of Porajhar says, "I came from Phalakata 13 years ago. I built a house here as I found land within my means. This time water entered the house. The way things are, the house will float away someday."
Siliguri environmentalist Dipnarayan Talukdar's statement is, "If the natural flow of rivers is obstructed, humans will suffer. The sooner people understand this, the better." Dipnarayan commented that the administration also needs to understand this matter before people do. But what is the administration doing? Last Wednesday, Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb came to inspect waterlogged Porajhar. Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Shama Parvin was with him. When the District Magistrate was questioned about settlements along riverbanks, she gave no answer. The Mayor said, "At this moment we cannot evict so many people."
