A path used by people involved in removing earth from the embankment along the Kulik. Picture by Nantu Dey

Raiganj, Aug. 1: The Kulik may swamp parts of Raiganj if people continue to remove earth from the embankment that protects the town from the rising waters of the river during monsoon.

The problem is compounded by the condition of the four sluice gates along the embankment that are in a state of disrepair. As a result, there is no outlet for the swelling river that flows past the town.

According to a source in the irrigation department, the 40-kilometre-long embankment was built two decades ago to protect the town from frequent flooding during the rains. The four sluice gates, located at Abdulghata, Khormujaghat, Shaktinagar and Kanchanpally, are supposed to let out excess water through channels.

“The Farakka Barrage authorities were supposed to repair the sluice gates by July, but did not do the work,” said Sandip Dey, an executive engineer of the irrigation department. “If there is sudden flooding, the embankment could be breached in many places.”

While the irrigation department grapples with the sluice gates, unscrupulous builders have been digging up the embankment and using the soil at construction sites. There are at least 25 spots along the embankment where the earth has been removed.

In Khormujaghat, those involved in the excavation have also created a road along the embankment to allow people to take cartloads of earth away from the area.

The situation is similar in Kanchanpally. “We alerted the people in the neighbourhood and the incidents stopped for a while. However, people are stealing the soil from less populated areas along the embankment,” said Nirmal Pal, a resident of Kanchanpally.

“I think that if the water level of the river rises any further, the weak spots on the embankment will be breached.”

Samar Das of the Bandar area said those who took away the soil spread a thin layer of sand on top to cover up their crime. “We are living in constant fear of a deluge,” Das added.

Mohit Sengupta, the chairman of the Raiganj Municipality, said the irrigation department was supposed to maintain the embankment.

“Soil from the embankment is removed daily while the irrigation department watches silently. We have asked the councillors of wards adjacent to the river to keep a sharp lookout and prevent people from digging up the soil from the embankment,” Sengupta said.

The executive engineer said the irrigation department did not have the manpower to protect the embankment. “If the people of the area are not vigilant, there is little we can do.”

Dey held out a hope for the sluice gates though. “With little rainfall in the past two weeks, the water level of the river is relatively low now and we can think of repairs.”