As authorities began relief and rescue operations in the affected blocks of Nandigram and Shankarpur, the Trinamool Congress has blamed the state government for its partial approach.
Sisir Adhikary, district Trinamool leader, said: “We had warned the district administration that the embankments are weak, but they did not take note of it. Since we had defeated the CPM in the panchayat elections here, local administration is doing nothing. During the recent flash floods also, the administration had remained biased.”
The district officials have denied the allegations. “Floods were caused by the solar eclipse and new moon. Embankments of Shankarpur could not withstand the water pressure and developed cracks. We have evacuated the villagers and are trying to repair the damaged embankments,” said Srikumar Chakraborty, Additional District Magistrate of East Midnapore.
Meanwhile, water from the Haldi river continued to inundate areas of Nandigram, including Kendamari, Jalpai and Dinabandhunagar. Officials said nearly 2,500 acres of agricultural land and several houses have been submerged. No casualty has been reported so far. At Shankarpur, Ramnagar and adjoining areas 22,000 acres of agricultural land came under sea water when embankment at the Shankarpur fishing harbour developed over a dozen cracks.
Block officials have expressed displeasure at the situation. “For more than a year, we have been requesting the irrigation department to repair the embankments, but they did not listen,” said Shantiram Gorai, Block Development Officer of Nandigram.