West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Hasnabad, June 12: Farmers and local residents staged a protest on Friday in Mohanpur village under Amlani Gram Panchayat in Hasnabad block of North 24 Parganas, demanding the removal of illegal encroachments from a canal and its proper restoration. Protesters alleged that the Bharangar canal has remained encroached for a long time, severely affecting agricultural activity across thousands of bighas of farmland, leaving nearly 15,000 farmers in distress.

The protesters claimed that the Bharangar canal once served as the primary drainage system of the region. During heavy rainfall, excess water from agricultural fields used to flow out through this canal. However, over time, encroachments along the canal banks, construction of houses, and conversion of sections into fish ponds have obstructed the natural drainage system. As a result, rainwater now remains stagnant in farmlands for extended periods, rendering large portions of land uncultivable.

Locals further alleged that canal encroachment began during the previous Left Front government and has increased significantly under the Trinamool Congress administration. They claimed that despite repeatedly informing local authorities and elected representatives, no effective action has been taken to resolve the issue.

The protesters demanded immediate eviction of illegal encroachments, proper restoration and cleaning of the canal, and construction of sluice gates to ensure effective water drainage. The incident has triggered fresh political debate in the region, with tensions rising over the long-standing issue of waterlogging and agricultural loss.