The river they once knew so well now seems to be turning on the people living on either side of the 150-km stretch of the Ganga upstream and downstream of the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal. Bit by bit, it has been shifting course, and eating into their lands. Some 400 square kilometres of it, to be precise, across 15 blocks in the Malda, Murshidabad and Nadia districts. So reveals a recent report by the West Bengal government. Even places that saw no erosion in the past six decades have now become vulnerable, it seems.
As a result, lakhs of people in the vicinity of the river live with the constant threat of erosion and the consequent loss of home and hearth. Heavy sedimentation upstream, multiple dams on the river that do not leave enough water for the sedimentation to be pushed into the delta, and an erratic weather pattern are altering the river’s natural course, forcing it to breach the banks and dislodge the soil. That, in turn, has led to widespread displacement of people, with neither the Centre nor the state offering them anything by way of succour, monetary or otherwise.
SAJIDA KHATUN, 8
Sitting by the river bank, little Sajida holds her baby sister and looks out to the now calm river, hoping it will return her dolls. Sajida’s father and his six brothers from Paschimpara village in Samserganj lost their homes and cultivable lands to the river. When the water had come flooding in the early hours of morning, destroying everything in its path, Sajida had been barely awake. All she remember hearing was some commotion and the next thing she knew, her mother ws dragging her out of the house. Sajida’s only regret? That she did not have the chance to save her dolls.
This story is from the April 18, 2022 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 18, 2022 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BJP's Big Paschim Test
On paper, the BJP-RLD tie-up is a winner for the NDA in west UP, though the INDIA bloc thinks otherwise. The BSP's entry with mixed candidates can unsettle both alliances
Why Gen V Matters
The Way The 210 Million-Strong Generation Viksit Bharat Casts Its Vote Will Determine The Outcome Of This Election As It Has In The Past
Heart Stopper
Cushions with tales of beauty, serenity, art and nature
THE NIPPON NARRATIVE
Say konnichiwa to good design and sayōnara to bad aesthetics, as this apartment in Bangalore is a lesson in how to use Japanese design effectively
RURAL RESPLENDENCE
This second home in a small village in Uttar Pradesh brings to life the beauty and simplicity of locally sourced materials
Curves in the Right Places
Arches may be taking over interior design, but how and where you place them in your home can make or mar the look of the room
Marvels in Mud
Here's how this humble material is changing the way we look at eco-friendly homes in India
DESIGN FOR THE AGES
Five homes, five distinct design styles that help decode how to curate age-appropriate spaces
TAKE FIVE
FROM RUGS TO CUSHIONS, THESE DECOR PIECES WILL GIVE YOUR INTERIORS AN INSTANT MAKEOVER THIS SEASON
TRENDY TABLESCAPES
At the turn of the season, three fashion labels throw a soiree that is stylish, suave and sophisticated