Balagarh residents quiz candidates over erosion, lack of jobs

Residents of Balagarh constituency have voiced deep frustration, saying they feel “deprived and neglected” as no permanent measures have been taken to address the alarming rate of riverbank erosion, the decline of the traditional roof-tile industry, and the lack of large-scale industries capable of generating employment for educated youth.

As candidates reach out to voters, they are facing a barrage of questions over the perceived neglect of Balagarh’s overall development, particularly on several pressing issues for which, residents say, no party has offered convincing answers.

Advertisement

In Balagarh, the Trinamul Congress (TMC) has nominated Ranjan Dhara, the CPI-M has fielded Bikash Goldar, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate is Sumana Sarkar.

Balagarh block lies on the western bank of the Hooghly river, a distributary of the Ganges. Of its 13 gram panchayats, 10 ~ Jirat, Chakkrishnabati, Dumurdaha-Nityanandapur I and II, Guptipara I and II, Siza-Kamalpur, Somra I and II, and Sripur–Balagarh — are located along the river.

A stretch of more than 2 km from Guptipara onwards is experiencing rapid erosion, affecting nine gram panchayats. Increasing areas of agricultural and residential land are being swallowed by the river, with thousands of farmers losing livelihoods, homes and livestock. School buildings and panchayat offices have also come under threat.

Partha Chatterjee, a teacher at Balagarh Bijoy Krishna Mahavidyalaya, said that when Locket Chatterjee was the BJP MP from Hooghly, her attention was drawn repeatedly to the erosion crisis, but she remained largely indifferent. In contrast, the present Hooghly MP, Rachna Banerjee, has raised the issue in Parliament, describing the situation as grave and highlighting the distress caused to local residents.

She also pointed to the lack of timely dredging, which has led to the formation of sandbars that obstruct the river’s flow. The diverted current, in turn, is accelerating erosion along the banks.

Eighty-year-old resident Bidhan Chandra Sarkar recalled that the clay-baked roof-tile industry was once a flourishing small-scale sector in Balagarh, providing employment to hundreds. “Tiles from Balagarh and Guptipara were once in demand even outside the state,” he said. “Thousands worked in the kilns, but now most have shut down, and people have been forced to seek other livelihoods.”

Residents are demanding assurances from candidates that steps will be taken to revive and modernise the traditional tile industry, making it viable and employment-generating once again. They have also drawn attention to the wooden boat-making industry in Balagarh, which is reportedly on the verge of receiving a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

Unemployment among educated youth remains a major concern. Locals expressed dissatisfaction over delays in a proposed power generation project that had promised jobs.

At the same time, there is considerable enthusiasm, particularly among jobless youth, over the proposed Balagarh Port Project, officially known as the Balagarh Extended Port Gate System. The project, initiated by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (formerly Kolkata Port Trust), aims to develop a modern cargo-handling barge terminal to ease congestion at the Kolkata Dock System.

Planned over approximately 900 acres, the project includes a dedicated terminal for containerised and dry bulk cargo, and facilities to promote cost-effective and environment-friendly river transport connecting the Ganga with neighbouring states. It is also expected to improve regional connectivity and support industrial growth.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the project in January. The development is expected to generate around 2,600 direct and indirect jobs. Many farmers who have given up land for the project are hopeful that their families will benefit from employment opportunities.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, addressing a recent election rally in Balagarh, said the state government is working within its limitations to tackle riverbank erosion, even without adequate assistance from the Centre.

However, residents maintain that welfare schemes alone cannot drive economic development or create sufficient employment.