Experts to monitor anti-erosion work

Statesman News Service

MALDA. (India) Feb.12. — Finally the Central government has formed an expert team in order to monitor anti-erosion work on the bank of the Ganga and Padma in Malda and Murshidabad respectively, a state government official said today.

Official sources said the team comprises of the chairman of the Ganga Flood Control Commission , director of Central Water and Power Research Station based in Pune, member of Central of Water Commission and chief engineer II of the state irrigation and water ways department.

The team will visit two erosion prone vulnerable spots in 14 and 15 February. The team will visit Panchanandapur in Kaliachak block II on 14 February , where 1.5 km long anti erosion work had been damaged by erosion of the Ganga last year out of 3 km one carried out by the state irrigation department.

On 15 February , the team will visit Parashpur-Taltali areas in Murshidabad, another erosion hit area by the Padma.

Including Mr MU Gani, the general manager of the Farakka Barrage Project and the expert team members will be meeting at Farakka on 16 February with a view to adopt a plan of preventive measures to stem erosion in this region, sources said.

The former Union water resources minister, Mr Santosh Mohan Deb, took initiative to form an expert team to take up anti erosion work in this region through Farakka Barrage project, after a meeting with the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, state officials claimed.

It may be recalled that the FBP had not agreed to take responsiblity of the damaged part of the anti ersion work . A few weeks ago the technical advisory committee of the FBP took the decision to take up the job carried out by the state last year. Then the general manager, FBP, Mr Gani had decided to inform all authorities officially with a view to execute the work properly seeking sufficient funds for this "up hill task".

Engineers said that there were more than three spots identified as most vulnerable on the left bank of the Ganga in Kaliachak II.

On the other hand, the state officials have been directed to submit all data over the study of the river and its bank line protection work made earlier through departmental survey.

The FBP officials have also expressed ire against the locals who had prevented them from doing job in North Dinajpur. Under the supervision of the former union minister, water resources department, Mr PR Das Munshi, the engineers of the FBP are working in North Dinajpur and northern part of Malda district.

In Malda , an assistant engineer of the state irrigation department has informed his department that the FBP officials have flatten a part of Mahananda embankment to build inspection road along the embankment at Swarupgnaj in Chanchal block area.

The Malda irrigation department has decided to conduct a joint survey to probe the matter, the assistant engineer said. #