Flood-hit farmers threaten agitation for compensation

9 September 2011

biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 9 SEPT: Thousands of villagers of at least 25 villages in East Midnapore are living in terrible condition as these villages have been lying inundated since June.
The farmers are now facing severe difficulties as paddy seedlings were damaged in recent floods. Left with no other options, they have now turned to the government for financial assistance. The farmers have threatened to launch massive agitation if the state government denies compensation.
Villagers living in the Brindaban Chawk, Siddha-I, Pulsita and Sagar Bandh gram panchayat areas gheraoed the block administrative and irrigation department officials demanding immediate compensation and proper drainage of the stagnant water. “If the water is not drained out immediately, the entire area will be polluted and infectious diseases will spread,” said a villager. Mr Sudipta Chakraborty, Block Development Officer, said: “I have visited the area today and spoke to the villagers. I will send a report to the district magistrate regarding the present condition of the areas.”
During the second phase of floods in August, 9.070 hectares of farmland, spanned over 892 villages of 126 gram panchayats, were submerged. The zilla parishad has already appealed to the state government for funds. According to the assessment report prepared by the district agriculture and horticulture departments, the total loss has been estimated at around Rs 36 crore ~ of which major losses have been estimated from the damage to crops, seedlings and flowers. The district agriculture department, however, has not mentioned the losses in terms of money, but officials said the loss would be around Rs 15 crore. Similarly, the district horticulture department has assessed the damage to flowers, betel vines and vegetables. It put the loss at Rs 21 crore.
Tamluk, Panskura, Kolaghat, Moyna, Pataspur and Ramnagar are the most affected areas in the district. However, the devastation would not have been so severe had the river embankment eroded in last year’s floods been repaired on time.
Some cases of diarrhoea and dysentery have already been reported from the flood-ravaged areas which were waterlogged for the past few days and the figure is rising