Balanga locals demand sluice gate repair

The people here have demanded early steps to repair a sluice gate near Kantunia to discharge excess rainwater from paddy fields in Chittalapur, Mukundadaspur, Sumana Sasan, Haripur, Gadapadanpur, Samarei, Balia and other villages to the Bhargavi river. They alleged that though the sluice gate has been repaired earlier several times, but due to corruption and substandard works, it was getting damaged off and on. Notably, the sluice gate under the Balanga Water Resources sub-division was totally damaged in the ongoing rains triggering a flood scare in the locality. It was constructed 60 years ago.

This year when the first flood came in the Bhargavi river, a small water hole was created near the sluice gate. A Technical Committee of the Water Resources Department and Nimapara MLA Samir Ranjan Dash rushed to the spot. A BJP delegation led by State Mahila Morcha president Pravati Parida too visited the spot demanding repair of the sluice gate and protection of the river embankment. Meanwhile, the sluice gate has been closed creating waterlogging in over 20,000 hectares of standing paddy crop land.