Balasore: Budhabalanga is breaching its banks at several places, posing threat to Dahapada village under Remuna block in Balasore.
At many places, banks have caved in while the river has engulfed nearly 50 decimals of land of 15 families. The river flows just 20 metres from the village.
“Hardly the river will take a few hours to reach the village and all are worried about it,” lamented some villagers.
The village resembles an island with Budabalanga flowing on two sides and its tributary on one side.
Phuladia village is on the other side of the river. The river used to erode its bank that side. But after stone packing of the river bank there, the opposite side is being eroded, said villagers.
They also pointed out that a huge sand dune lying towards the opposite side of Dhapada has been diverting the flow of the water.
“If that dune is somehow levelled, the water flow will be equitable on the riverbed and will not eat into the banks,” said villagers like Harekrushna Pradhan, Gourang Pradhan, Laxmimani Pradhan and Hemanta Pradhan.
Brundaban Pradhan, another villager, said that in the last five years, the river has eroded extensively. The government should do something for this, he added.
SDO of the Irrigation Division, Nirmal Kanti Jena, said that he was aware of the problems being faced by the Dahapada residents. The higher-ups have been apprised of the issue and necessary steps will be taken, he assured.
PNN