Encroachment must stop, Bengal minister urges North Bengal to learn from Nepal floods

PRASHANT ACHARYA

BAGDOGRA,: West Bengal Tourism minister Shankar Ghosh on Friday called for stricter action against encroachment along rivers and other vulnerable areas, urging people in North Bengal to learn lessons from the devastation caused by recent floods in Nepal.

Speaking at a felicitation programme here, Ghosh said the situation in Nepal, particularly the impact on people living close to rivers, should serve as a warning for communities residing in similarly vulnerable locations in North Bengal.

Referring to the devastation witnessed during flash floods in the Teesta and Balason rivers, the minister said increasing settlements and encroachment in riverine and danger zones could put lives at serious risk during extreme weather events.

"I am not saying that people should be evacuated immediately. But an assessment is needed by the concerned departments. It should be investigated how these people started residing in these areas and through whose source or permission," Ghosh said.

He stressed that encroachment on government or vulnerable land was illegal and said complaints regarding illegal occupation would be dealt with according to law.

"Encroachment is illegal. If a complaint is registered, the police will take its own course of action," he said.

Ghosh said the floods and landslides in Nepal should prompt both authorities and residents in North Bengal to reassess settlements located close to riverbanks and other areas vulnerable to flash floods.

The Teesta and Balason river systems have witnessed flooding and erosion in the past, with sudden rises in water levels posing risks to communities living nearby.

The minister said the issue should not be viewed merely as an eviction exercise and called for concerned government departments to conduct proper assessments of vulnerable settlements, examine how encroachments occurred and identify necessary safety measures.

He also stressed the need for greater public awareness among people living along riverbanks and in recognised danger zones.

With the monsoon continuing in the region, Ghosh's remarks assume significance for communities living near rivers and low-lying areas of North Bengal.

The minister said the devastation witnessed in Nepal should be treated as a lesson for both authorities and residents living in vulnerable areas.