WATERLOGGING DUE TO ENCROACHMENT

WATERLOGGING DUE TO ENCROACHMENT

22-JULY-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BUXAR-------------------------The drainage system in Raghunathpur Panchayat (Brahmpur Block) has completely collapsed due to encroachment on the government drain and a lack of cleaning for years. Amidst continuous rainfall, the blocked drain has caused water to accumulate within the Raghunathpur Community Health Centre premises, while roads and lanes in several village wards have become submerged. This is disrupting the movement of the general public and causing immense hardship to the villagers.

Villagers reported that rainwater cannot drain out because the drain is clogged. This has also affected the fields, where water accumulation is disrupting paddy transplantation and other agricultural activities. Farmers are increasingly concerned about potential financial losses. There is resentment among the villagers towards public representatives and the local administration due to the failure to clean or desilt the drain for years.

According to the villagers, the government drain passing through the Canara Bank area of ​​Raghunathpur market is the primary outlet for the village's rainwater. This drain eventually empties into the Chera River and plays a crucial role in drainage and irrigation for Raghunathpur market, the Community Health Centre, various neighborhoods, and surrounding agricultural lands. Villagers allege that over the past several years, encroachments and the dumping of soil along various sections of the drain have reduced its width and obstructed water flow in several places. Due to the lack of regular cleaning and desilting, the village and surrounding fields face waterlogging issues every monsoon. The accumulation of stagnant, dirty water has led to a surge in mosquito infestations and an increased risk of infectious diseases.

The villagers state that while they have repeatedly informed panchayat representatives and relevant officials about this issue, no concrete action has been taken so far. They believe that removing encroachments from the government drain—followed by proper cleaning, desilting, and widening—could provide a permanent solution to this long-standing waterlogging problem.

Social activists and villagers—including Shailesh Ojha, Bablu Yadav, Vishal Singh, Bittu Yadav, Lala Yadav, and Savita Devi—have demanded that the administration conduct an immediate site inspection, remove illegal encroachments, undertake a thorough cleaning and desilting of the drain, carry out a technical survey of the affected areas, and take action against the guilty in accordance with the law. The villagers have warned that if the issue is not resolved in a timely manner, they will be compelled to launch a protest through democratic and lawful means.