A proposed visit by Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to Manikchak in Malda has brought renewed attention to the post-flood crisis, with fresh river erosion reportedly leaving more than 100 families homeless across parts of the district.
Preparations for the visit have begun, including the preparation of a helipad at Manikchak College. According to Manikchak MLA Gour Chandra Mondal, the chief minister is likely to address a public meeting at the Mathurapur BSS High School ground and distribute relief among people affected by the floods.
The chief minister is also expected to review the situation in flood-affected areas and assess restoration and reconstruction work underway in the region. The visit is proposed and arrangements are expected to be finalised by the administration in the coming days.
The reported erosion has affected families in Ratua-I and Manikchak blocks, as well as Khaskol under the English Bazar block, over the past two days. Residents living along vulnerable riverbanks are seeking rehabilitation measures as erosion continues to threaten settlements and homes.
The displacement has made rehabilitation a central concern for local communities. Families who have lost their homes to erosion require shelter and support while the administration continues restoration work in areas affected by the wider post-flood situation. The report did not specify the number of relief camps, the nature of compensation or the timeline for permanent resettlement.
The proposed visit follows an earlier expectation that the chief minister would travel to the flood-affected areas. That visit did not take place because of his other engagements. The latest programme is being planned during the post-flood period, when local authorities are dealing simultaneously with relief distribution, infrastructure restoration and the consequences of ongoing bank erosion.
On Saturday, Gour Chandra Mondal and officials from the block administration inspected the Mathurapur BSS High School ground, which has been identified as the proposed venue for the public meeting. They also inspected the helipad being prepared at Manikchak College.
The inspections indicate that the administration is preparing for a visit that could include a review of relief and reconstruction activities. The rehabilitation of families displaced by erosion is expected to remain a major issue during the chief minister’s proposed programme. Further details of the visit, including its final schedule and the administration’s rehabilitation measures, are expected to be settled in the coming days.
