Crisis at Belgachia: Land Subsidence Ignites Political Showdown

Residents of Belgachia in West Bengal face hardship after land subsidence due to unplanned garbage dumping. State Congress president Subhankar Sarkar blames the government, urging technological interventions. Urban Development Minister and Leader of Opposition offer responses. Disrupted water and electricity supplies heighten the crisis for 15,000 affected residents.

The crisis in West Bengal's Belgachia district has taken center stage as land subsidence, attributed to unplanned garbage dumping, leaves numerous residents homeless. State Congress president Subhankar Sarkar criticized the government for neglecting expert warnings and called for immediate relief measures.

Sarkar, halted by police barricades en route to Belgachia, questioned the lack of modern technology to convert dumped waste into organic fertilizers. He accused the chief minister of neglecting local issues in favor of international travels.

Meanwhile, Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim vowed solutions within three days after visiting the site, while a scuffle during the visit of the Leader of Opposition intensified political tensions. The subsidence has disrupted water and electricity services, impacting around 15,000 residents. Efforts are underway to restore services, though residents report insufficient water supply.

(With inputs from agencies.)