Flood eradication drive shut down In Barrackpore

Residents and commuters using the Barrackpore Main Road are questioning the apparent shut down of the much-anticipated flood eradication drive in Barrackpore. The project which was started by the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation in July came to a sudden stop in October, leaving more clogged drains than before. There are a number of iron pipes sticking out of the incomplete drains making it difficult for pedestrians. According to Sam Sumersingh a taxi-driver plying his vehicle on the Barrackpore Main Road, it takes him almost 45 minutes to exit the area between the Barrackpore Police Station and the Barrackpore Senior Secondary which is a mere half mile away.

“This is high-class hypocrisy. They start the project and now it is incomplete and no one is there to answer to villagers who are now suffering,” he said. He noted that there is  material on the left side of the road and that is what is causing the traffic in this area. “I used to make three trips in the morning. I can only make one now,” explained Sumersingh. With the project at a standstill and residents receiving no form of response from the Ministry of Works and Transport’s Highway Division, one resident Sonnylal Ragoonanan, is calling on Works Minister Franklyn Khan to look at the matter urgently. Ragoonanan also said that another problem that has developed because of the flooding is the collection of garbage on the street corners. “Every Monday morning villagers are seen spraying and cleaning the street corners for fear of mosquitoes,” he said. He told Newsday that the flood eradication project was supposed to be finished since the beginning of the new school term but villagers  now have more serious problems.
“The authorities are waiting for an accident to happen, then they will quickly move the material and allow the free flow of traffic on both sides of the roads,”  Ragoonanan said angrily.

The residents are also clamouring over the fact the drains that are now filled to capacity with water which poses a threat to their health. Bobby Singh owner of a nearby pet shop, says that he had to close the store after the mosquito invasion last week. “The drains are clogged and the water just keeps on backing up. “Right now the water is stagnant and it is a breeding place for mosquitos and I am calling on the Ministry of Health to look into this before it becomes an epidemic,” explained Singh. Another resident Tarreek Khan, is calling for more police on mornings to control the flow of traffic. “People drive to suit themselves and they don’t care about others, that is why we need the police to be on the scene, especially on mornings,” said Khan.