Singur/Kolkata (West Bengal), Sept. 26 : Work at an upcoming small car plant at Singur in West Bengal has been badly hit following water logging due to incessant rains.

The halting of operations has left most of workers facing a difficult situation.

"Because of the flooding at the project, work is held up. Contractors say there is no work, and therefore, there is no pay. For the last three days, we have had nothing to eat. What to do?" asks Sahib, a contracted worker.

The construction of the factory at Singur began earlier this year. The company plans to come out with the world's cheapest car.

The project has become a test case for Left rule in West Bengal, as the state’s farmers have accused the government of taking their land coercively.
Heavy rains have expressed the ineptness of the infrastructure at the proposed factory premises.

The overflowing of the Hooghly River, the flooding of agricultural land and no relief in immediate sight has compounded public problems.

"The position is dreadful. The river is over flooded. Three bighas (0.12 hectare) of our land is all submerged causing huge losses to my potato and other crops, for which I had availed loan. None from the State Government has even cared to come and visit us. Even the panchayat has not been helpful," said Samiran Mitra, a farmer.

The extreme water logging of roads in Kolkata has disrupted normal life as well.

"Only rickshaws are moving, there are neither any autos nor buses. Nothing is available and we are facing problems in getting to office," Sanjeev, a resident said.

Every year, monsoon rains leave a trail of death and destruction across South Asia, but much of the economy of a largely agricultural region depends on this downpour. (With inputs from ANI)