Erosion work runs into troubled waters

Statesman News Service

MALDA,( India) Dec. 19. — The bank line protection work to check erosion is uncertain this year, political leaders said here today. The Malda irrigation officials said that they have started surveying the damaged anti erosion work carried by the state authorities on the left bank of the Ganga within the 3 km stretch in Kaliachak II block, which was eroded due to severe erosion this year rendering many families homeless . “Following the direction of the higher authorities we have started the survey and will be waiting for their next instruction”, said an engineer of the Malda irrigation division. “There is no fund at present this year”, he added. It may be recalled that the anti erosion work had been completed this year, having spend Rs 24 crore for this 3 km stretch which is a erosion prone zone. Over 50 percent of the constructed portion was washed away this monsoon. On the other hand, the CPI-M MLA, Mr Samar Roy, said: “The Farakka Barrage project has taken up nearly 500 metres stretch in the down stream for bank protection. But how could it protect the entire vulnerable zone out of the 40 km which was handed over to the central organisation, Farakka Barrage Project, for anti erosion measures?” “After the change of ministerial berth for water resources department from Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi to Mr Santosh Mohan Dev, we are apprehending that the Union government may hand over the charge to the state again”, Mr Roy claimed. It may be noted that Mr Das Munshi took initiative to take the charge of nearly 32 km out of 40 km from the state on the left bank of the Ganges from FBP to the up stream in Malda district in order to adopt effective measures for checking active erosion that has destroyed thousands of hectares of crop lands and home stead lands in this belt in last few years. Official sources said that the FBP officials have placed some conditions in the last meeting held at Farakka. “If we take restoration work of the damaged part of the present three km long anti erosion work, they would take up 500 metres more fresh anti erosion work from zero point of the work in the down stream. But we do not have fund for its restoration”, they said. The state had proposed the FBP to take up anti erosion work in this down stream near Sultantola in Kaliachak II, which was also under threat. #

Farakka anti-erosion move on hold
MALDA, Jan. 6. — The Farakka Barrage Project will not carry out any anti-erosion work without the approval of its technical advisory committee (TAC) on either side of the Ganga in Malda and Murshidabad districts, a senior engineer with FBP said today. It was reported that the authorities were forced to take such a decision due to problems in receiving payment from the contractors. All the anti-erosion work executed by them last year. “Following the instructions from the Union minister for water resources, the FBP was forced to start the anti-erosion works without the TAC and at present, the FBP is not in a position to pay following objection from the finance department,” an engineer said. “Several anti-erosion projects and proposals have been placed before the TAC, but we are now waiting for the TAC meeting scheduled in the third week of January”, the engineer said. On the other hand, it was also learnt that the former Union minister for water resources, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, would inaugurate some FBP projects in Gazole, Harishchandrapur and a few other parts of the Malda district on 15 January. Though, the programme was scheduled on 9 January, the programme was deferred today.Reports said that the Chief Minister will also be in Malda on 15 January to lay the foundation stone of some projects, that includes two drinking water projects. — SNS