NGO to visit erosion-hit areas

Statesman News Service

MALDA. (India) Nov. 30. — A team of non-government organisations associated with the international human rights will visit the erosion-hit areas on the left bank of the Ganga at Kaliachak II on the first week of December.

The team will also study the plight of the villagers, spokesman of the local citizens’ forum informed today.

The members of the forum, the Ganga Bhangan Pratirodh Nagarik Action Committee, will organise a five-day programme in the erosion affected areas and look into the plight of those affected by the erosion in the last three decades.

The GBPNAC works in collaboration with other state NGOs on river erosion project, particularly the Ganga.

They are also pressing the authorities to take steps to stem the erosion.A representative of the Independent Broadcasting Association, USA, Mr Julian C Hollick, who also visited the erosion hit zone of the Ganga to take stock of the situation, will submit a report to the Independent Broadcasting Association.

The team of the International human rights organisation will also interact with the villagers and the administration to enquire further about the situation, sources said.

Today, a team of GBPNAC met the district officials and urged them to expedite the rehabilitation programme.

According to them, an alternative road and a floating bridge on the tributary of the Gangas, called Pagla, is imperative for the people living in an isolated area after severe erosion during monsoon.

They have also demanded reduction of registration fee of lands for the erosion victims who have already shifted to Gazole area , over 40 km from the left bank of the Ganges, after rendering homeless.

It may be noted that no initiative has been taken to prepare schemes for erosion protection presently by concerned authorities on the left bank of Gangas mainly in Kaliachak II area , identified as most vulnerable bank zone. #