Kaptipada: People of at least 21 villages under this block in Mayurbhanj district are in a state of panic due to massive erosion along the banks of river Sone.
The width of the river, which was earlier of just 75 feet, has extended to 300 feet adding to the worries of the villagers, a report said.
With the monsoon already entering the state, residents of several villages along the river, including Gadasahi, Rathadandasahi, Beldiha, Janakpur, Bajrapur, Kolhasahi, Ambapichhula and Khaprapal, are spending sleepless nights. Their worries have not lessened despite the fact that the mercury level continues to remain over 40°C.
Meanwhile, the irrigation department, conceding the demands of the people, has already spent Rs 22 lakh for constructing stone embankment along the river bank near Kukudagadi and Chandiasahi, Rs 25 lakh for Rathadhanda Sahi and Rs 40 lakh for Mahuladiha.
However, it is alleged that the work was of substandard quality as the embankment has collapsed at Rathadanda Sahi though there is no water in the river. The incident has triggered resentment among the villagers.
Villagers claimed flood waters gush into the river every year and destroy life and properties in the absence of check dam and spur. Many poor villagers have already left the village as their ancestral lands have already been engulfed by the river. To make the matter worse, mafia continue to mine and smuggle sand from the river bank.
Though several proposals to curb the menace came up at the disaster management committee meetings, none of them are executed, it was alleged.
As the monsoon has already entered the state the villagers have demanded immediate completion of the stone packing work.
They also fear that the village would vanish from the map of the block unless check-dams are not constructed on a war footing.
When contacted, Medium Irrigation Department junior engineer said a proposal in this connection has been sent to the department to facilitate stone packing at 25 places between Sunei Dam and Bairatpur. The projects would be completed in a phased manner, he added.
PNN