The people of Dudhay village are
apprehensive about the Balasan River swelling up and causing damage to
their property and farmlands with the onset of the rainy season. The
Balasan River, which flows close to the village, is formed from various
small streams in the high hills and makes way to the planes through the
valleys of Darjeeling, Mirik and Kurseong. During the rainy season, the
river rises above its normal flowing level and causes panic among low
lying villages.
Currently, the water speed along Balasan
River has increased to such a level that the sand embankments
protecting the Dudhay village has started to give up. With the monsoon
just starting, the villagers feel the water level will rise further as
it progresses and could damage their property. In 1996, the rising river
had damaged a huge portion of the village’s vegetative land, which has
continued to deteriorate further each passing year. Moreover, the
villagers also use the land along the banks for farming and the space
has only decreased in the last one decade.
The villagers had demanded the
administration to construct concrete embankment to protect their farm
land and other properties, but there has been no progress on the demand.
However, the Kurseong Municipality, under which the area falls, has
taken interest in constructing the embankment and are said to be working
on a plan.
The villagers say they spend sleepless
nights when there are heavy rains, fearful of when the Balasan river
will change its mood and sweep away their village. They are also fearful
the bridge connecting Siliguri and Mirik could give away if the river
rises to extreme level. They have urged the concerned department and
government to look into the problem and find a solution at the earliest.(EOIC)