KOLKATA: Heavy rainfall in Bengal over the weekend and the Met's prediction of more rain in the next 48 hours have set alarm bells ringing. The situation has already turned serious with the Teesta crossing the danger level and a flash flood sweeping Neora on Saturday night. If the rains continue, large tracts of the state will be under water during the forthcoming panchayat polls.
The state government has formed a multi-disciplinary task force to deal with the crisis. State irrigation minister Rajiv Banerjee said, "We are monitoring the situation round-the-clock. The measures taken earlier have managed to keep things in check till now. However, if similar rains continue over the next 48 hours, we have to consider emergency measures." Banerjee also admitted that with 300 departmental engineers already deployed for poll duty, tackling emergencies will be difficult this time around.
Banerjee admitted that with 300 departmental engineers on poll duty, monitoring the situation will be difficult.
During the weekend shower, North Bengal received 200 mm of rainfall, while Bankura and Bishnupur recorded rainfall of 186 mm. The situation is gradually worsening in Shilabati river and that in Tarakeshwar, Arambag, Khanakul and Goghat is no better. The flood-prone Moyna and Ghatal of West Midnapore are also bracing for the worst. Till now no major damage has been reported, added the irrigation minister.Banerjee, however, remained tightlipped when asked if the weather condition would pose a problem during the rural elections. The state election commission wasn't willing to comment either. "For natural calamities, the elections can be deferred for those particular areas," said an SEC official. The commission has suggested that speedboats be deployed to man and organise the poll process in flood-hit areas
Teesta is already flowing over the danger level. A flash flood swept Neora on Saturday night. North Bengal has already received 200 millimeters of rainfall. Bankura and Bishnupur 186 mm; closer home stretches in Howrah received 150 mm of rainfall. With the Met office predicting rain for the next 48-hours, the state fears the situation can only worsen further.
State irrigation minister Rajiv Banerjee said, "We are monitoring the situation round-the-clock. The interventions take earlier has managed to keep things in check till now, however, if similar rains continue over the next 48-hours, we have to consider emergency measures. However, we have already formed a multi-disciplinary task force to tackle the situation." However, the question already doing the rounds is how will panchayat polls be conducted if large tracts of Bengal remain underwater. Banerjee also admitted that with 300 departmental engineers already deployed for poll-duty, tackling emergencies will be a tough ask this time.
Situations is gradually worsening in Shilabati river too and in its wake Tarakeshwar, Arambagh, Khanakul and Goghat. The flood-prone Moyna and Ghatal stretches of West Midnapore is also bracing for the worst. The irrigation minister, however, added that till now no major damage is reported. To another question whether floods could pose a problem for the scheduled panchayat polls, the minister refused to comment. The SEC, too, wasn't willing to comment to it. "For natural calamities the elections can be deferred for those particular areas," said a SEC official. The SEC has also suggested that speedboats be deployed to man and organise the poll process , in flood-hit areas. But questions remain on their feasibility.
TNN Jul 1, 2013
The state government has formed a multi-disciplinary task force to deal with the crisis. State irrigation minister Rajiv Banerjee said, "We are monitoring the situation round-the-clock. The measures taken earlier have managed to keep things in check till now. However, if similar rains continue over the next 48 hours, we have to consider emergency measures." Banerjee also admitted that with 300 departmental engineers already deployed for poll duty, tackling emergencies will be difficult this time around.
Banerjee admitted that with 300 departmental engineers on poll duty, monitoring the situation will be difficult.
During the weekend shower, North Bengal received 200 mm of rainfall, while Bankura and Bishnupur recorded rainfall of 186 mm. The situation is gradually worsening in Shilabati river and that in Tarakeshwar, Arambag, Khanakul and Goghat is no better. The flood-prone Moyna and Ghatal of West Midnapore are also bracing for the worst. Till now no major damage has been reported, added the irrigation minister.Banerjee, however, remained tightlipped when asked if the weather condition would pose a problem during the rural elections. The state election commission wasn't willing to comment either. "For natural calamities, the elections can be deferred for those particular areas," said an SEC official. The commission has suggested that speedboats be deployed to man and organise the poll process in flood-hit areas
Teesta is already flowing over the danger level. A flash flood swept Neora on Saturday night. North Bengal has already received 200 millimeters of rainfall. Bankura and Bishnupur 186 mm; closer home stretches in Howrah received 150 mm of rainfall. With the Met office predicting rain for the next 48-hours, the state fears the situation can only worsen further.
State irrigation minister Rajiv Banerjee said, "We are monitoring the situation round-the-clock. The interventions take earlier has managed to keep things in check till now, however, if similar rains continue over the next 48-hours, we have to consider emergency measures. However, we have already formed a multi-disciplinary task force to tackle the situation." However, the question already doing the rounds is how will panchayat polls be conducted if large tracts of Bengal remain underwater. Banerjee also admitted that with 300 departmental engineers already deployed for poll-duty, tackling emergencies will be a tough ask this time.
Situations is gradually worsening in Shilabati river too and in its wake Tarakeshwar, Arambagh, Khanakul and Goghat. The flood-prone Moyna and Ghatal stretches of West Midnapore is also bracing for the worst. The irrigation minister, however, added that till now no major damage is reported. To another question whether floods could pose a problem for the scheduled panchayat polls, the minister refused to comment. The SEC, too, wasn't willing to comment to it. "For natural calamities the elections can be deferred for those particular areas," said a SEC official. The SEC has also suggested that speedboats be deployed to man and organise the poll process , in flood-hit areas. But questions remain on their feasibility.
TNN Jul 1, 2013
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