BALASORE: Even as the flood waters have receded in northern parts of Balasore, erosion of river embankments has left people scared. Banks of rivers at many places have eroded due to lack of maintenance and appropriate measures to protect them. Sources said massive erosion of the embankments of Subarnarekha has been reported from Sekhabad, Gobarghata, Mankidia, Gobardhanpur, Baiganbadia, Kirtania, Kantapal and Mohammadpur areas.Locals said large patches of the riverbed have been eroded in the flood water current. Every year the river is eating into land mass and moving closer to the residential areas. While the focus has been only on sea erosion, riverbank erosion could be the largest displacement factor, they pointed out. The condition of embankments in Budhabalanga, Jalaka and Kansabansa rivers is no better. Erosion and landslides on the Budhabalanga embankment have assumed alarming proportion and are giving nightmare to people in scores of villages in Balasore. “Forget about monsoon, we are even scared in summer. The river which gets reverse water from sea has eroded more than 2 km patch in Old Balasore area putting people’s lives under threat,” said Judhisthir Jena, a resident. Reports said at many places, the rate of erosion has increased gradually. Environmentalists fear that the rivers may change their courses and eventually alter the geography of the district. People alleged that this time the administration had not taken up repair work of river embankments before the monsoon. If restoration work is not initiated, it would prove disastrous during next monsoon. Collector in-charge Sribatsa Jena had visited some places where river erosion was extensive during the flood. He said irrigation officials have been instructed to assess the quantum of damage and prepare a budget.
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