Over 1,000 residents of villages near the Leesh river that flows through Malbazar subdivision of Jalpaiguri on Thursday went to the BDO office to demonstrate for over five hours, alleging government and administrative negligence in addressing erosion for years.

The demonstration lifted only after Malbazar BDO Biman Chandra Biswas said anti-erosion work would start in the area on an emergency basis from Sunday.

A large police contingent was posted at the BDO office premises to ensure peace was not breached. Aggrieved residents, who were stopped at the entrance of the BDO office at 10am, resorted to sloganeering against the BDO. The policemen tried to dissuade them but the protests continued. Seeing the villagers, several others turned up to know what has led to the protests.

Vivek Mani Lakra, a resident of Shaugaon, one of the affected villages, said acres of land have been washed away by the Leesh river these past three years.

“Many of us lost our homes and farmland and yet, the block administration and state irrigation department did not do anything to check erosion. This year, the river is aggressively gobbling chunks of land in our locality. That is why we came to the BDO office,” said Lakra.

At 3pm, BDO Biswas spoke to villagers. “We have heard their demands and have spoken to irrigation department officials. It was decided that work would start on an emergency basis from Sunday. As of now, a new channel would be dug to divert the water. Also, work to protect banks would be taken up under the 100 days’ job,” said the BDO.

His assurance pacified villagers, but as they left the site, they said they would block NH31 if the administration did not keep its word.