Cell set up to monitor floods

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 11: After torrential rain in the upper catchment of the Ganges, the Malda irrigation department set up a flood prevention cell yesterday to monitor the rising water levels in the three main rivers of the district as part of the flood prevention measure in the region. The flood prevention cell will monitor the water level in the rivers till the end of September, officials said. Irrigation department officials said upper catchment areas such as Patna, Gaya and Nalanda received heavy rain in the past two days. As a result, the Ganges’ water level at the Manikchak Ghat will gradually rise in the next two days. Irrigation engineers said the first flood may not affect the bank line and the ongoing anti-erosion work. But a second spell, particularly by the end of June-July, may wreak havoc in the region. Following heavy rain in Bihar and Jharkhand, the Ganges will drain out the accumulated rain water upstream and downstream in South Bengal.It was learnt that there is no fear of floods at present. The Falgu and Ajoy rivers will receive rain waters at Gaya, which will flow into the Ganges through the Bhagirathi downstream.The Sone will receive rain water at Nalanda and in turn discharge it into the Ganges in the upstream region of the district. Reportedly, the Malda administration is worried about the Ganges getting flooded because no major anti-flood work was initiated on its left bank this year. Irrigation department officials are, however, confident that up to 25.30 metres of water-level in the rivers can be tackled to prevent floods by implementing anti-flood protection measures in the Kaliachak II area.