The Left Front in Malda has decided to stage a blockade on NH12 on October 7, demanding immediate rehabilitation and adequate relief for erosion victims in Malda and Murshidabad districts.

The decision was made a few days after a three-member delegation of the CPM comprising politburo member Mohammad Salim had visited some erosion-affected areas of both the districts.

According to Malda district LF convener Ambar Mitra, the blockade would be raised on NH 12 at Chamagram in Kaliachak 3 block — one of the erosion affected blocks in the district.

“Hundreds of affected people who have become homeless will join the protest,” said Mitra.

“Altogether, eight-and-a-half lakh people living in 67 mouzas across the district have been directly or indirectly affected by the erosion. The number of such erosion victims is increasing every day as rivers are constantly gobbling land and anything that stands on it. Thousands of them are living under open sky or are crammed at flood shelters. We hardly find any initiative by the state or the central government to rehabilitate them,” he added.