WATER LOGGING IN RAGHUNATHPUR

WATER LOGGING IN RAGHUNATHPUR

24-JULY-ENG 7

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BUXAR--------------------------In the Raghunathpur Panchayat of Brahmpur Block, the water drainage system has completely collapsed due to encroachment on the government drain and a lack of cleaning for years. Water has accumulated within the premises of the Raghunathpur Community Health Center due to a blocked drain amidst continuous rainfall, while roads and lanes in several village wards have become submerged. This has disrupted the movement of residents and caused them significant hardship.

Villagers stated that rainwater is unable to drain out because the drain is clogged. This has also impacted the fields; the accumulation of excess water is hindering agricultural activities, including paddy transplantation. Farmers are increasingly worried about potential financial losses. There is resentment among the villagers towards public representatives and the local administration due to the lack of cleaning and desilting of the drain for years.

According to the villagers, the government drain passing through the Canara Bank area of ​​Raghunathpur market serves as 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 Center, various neighborhoods, and surrounding agricultural lands.

Villagers allege that over the past few years, encroachments and the dumping of soil in various sections of the drain have reduced its width and obstructed water flow in several places. The absence of regular cleaning and desilting leads to waterlogging in the village and fields every monsoon season. The stagnation of wastewater has not only caused a surge in mosquito populations but also increased the risk of infectious diseases.

The villagers state that they have repeatedly informed panchayat representatives and relevant officials about this issue, yet no concrete action has been taken so far. They believe that removing encroachments from the government drain and undertaking proper cleaning, desilting, and widening could provide a permanent solution to this long-standing waterlogging problem. Social activists Shailesh Ojha, Bablu Yadav, Vishal Singh, Bittu Yadav, Lala Yadav, and Savita Devi, along with other villagers, have demanded that the administration conduct an immediate on-site inspection of the government drain, remove illegal encroachments, undertake a complete cleaning and desilting of the drain, carry out a technical survey of the waterlogging-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 time, they will be compelled to launch a protest through democratic and lawful means.