Watch on anti-erosion work

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 1: Mr SK Das, an expert in the department of “design and research” of the Central Water Commission (CWC) will visit the ongoing anti-erosion project sites at Panchanandapur in Malda’s Kaliachak II block on 4 June, officials said today. During his visit, Mr Das will inspect the anti-erosion work being carried out by the Farakka Barrage Project, a Central government unit. The FBP is carrying out a 1.5- km bank line protection work on the left bank of the Ganges at Panchanandapur in Kaliachak II.It is a repairing and reconstruction job for bank line protection to save lands from severe erosion. The Centre has allotted Rs 14 crore.The FBP has taken up this job upstream, out of its 40-km jurisdiction from the Farraka Barrage. The decision was taken both by the state and Central governments.The state government had handed over the jurisdiction to the Centre during the tenure of Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi as Union water resources development minister.Last year, the state irrigation and waterways department had executed the 3-km bank line protection work in Kaliachak-II block, spending Rs 24 crore. But due to floods and severe erosion, the 1.5- km stretch was eroded.The villagers and local residents’ committee has started an agitation against FBP officials, raising the question of quality of work. Villagers alleged that the work’s progress was slow and that FBP officials had begun work after much delay.Locals have planned to submit a memorandum to Mr Das during his visit on 4 June, protesting against the “poor quality of work” being carried out by the FBP.Last year, the state irrigation officials had to face the ire of the villagers for alleged poor quality of work being carried out by the FBP.