Monsoon Rains: With monsoon rains threatening to cause further damage, the Irrigation Department has built a temporary dam using sand bags to protect Barauna village from the rising Ganga river. Barauna, located in Uttar Pradesh’s Kasganj district, has suffered severe erosion in previous floods, making homes unsafe. Despite spending over Rs. 20 crore on the permanent embankment earlier, the initial monsoon surge had already compromised its integrity. Seeing the urgent need to protect the population, the authorities erected a 70-metre temporary barrier using 35,000 sand-filled bags tied with synthetic ropes. Costing around Rs. 25-26 lakh, this emergency measure is aimed at gaining time until a long-term solution is implemented.
However, locals are worried as three support pillars were uprooted during the three-day flood, highlighting the improvised nature of the construction. District officials have assured the villagers that further protective works will be carried out after inspecting the damage with the collector. The ongoing repair of cracks in the existing embankment is also aimed at strengthening protection against the increasing possibility of floods. The village’s fragile location on the riverbank has put residents at constant risk. Two years of devastating floods have highlighted the precariousness of their situation. While irrigation officials continue to devote resources to the issue, residents are demanding a permanent system that is able to end the cycle of uncertainty and rebuild after each monsoon cycle. Only a solid flood protection plan can fully reassure this vulnerable community.
