BSF canals turn farm hazard in monsoon

In January this year, the Border Security Force engaged excavators to dig the canals

One of the canals dug up by the BSF in Dinhata-I block of Cooch Behar.: Main Uddin Chisti

TT Correspondent   |   Cooch Behar   |    01.07.22 : Three canals dug by the Border Security Force (BSF) in as many villages of Dinhata-I and II blocks near the India-Bangladesh border some six months back to prevent cattle smuggling have become a cause for concern for farmers.

The canals, connected with a river, have started eroding farmland this monsoon.

Sources said that in January this year, the BSF engaged excavators to dig the canals. 

A 1.5km canal was dug from Baniadaha river to Konamukta village, and 500-metre canal was dug in Haridas-Khamar village, both in Dinhata-I block. A third canal of 1km was dug in Karala, a village in Dinhata-II block.

All these canals were dug parallel to the border road, used by residents and the BSF.

“The depth of these canals varies from four to eight feet. As these are connected to the Baniadaha river, water levels of these canals have risen in monsoon. This is leading to erosion and chunks of our agricultural land are being gobbled up by the canals,” said Shahidul Haque, a farmer of Konamukta village.

BSF authorities, he said, had said that guard walls would be built along the canals to prevent erosion of farmland. “Six months have passed by and no such guard wall has been built. Monsoon is here and we are losing land,” Shahidul said.  

Liton Sheikh, another farmer, pointed out that not just farmland, homes were also at risk. 

“Many farmers have houses near their field. In some stretches, due to erosion, homes are also at risk. We want the BSF to start construction of the guard walls soon.”

On Wednesday, a delegation of the farmers visited the district magistrate’s office here and submitted a memorandum, requesting the administration’s intervention.

Recently, Udayan Guha, the Trinamul MLA of Dinhata, visited the villages. “I will send a report to the chief minister,” said MLA Guha.

The SDO of Dinhata and the BDO of Dinhata-II block have also spoken to farmers for information, said sources.

BSF personnel posted in the area declined to comment. Calls to senior BSF officers in Cooch Behar went unanswered.