Statesman News Service
MALDA July 26: The Farakka Barrage Project (FBP) authorities have taken up anti-erosion work on a war footing at Shimultala village in Kaliachak III block near the Farakka bridge over which NH-34 passes. Hundreds of labourers are engaged in dumping sand bags, placing jute carpets and mats made by bamboo, in order to prevent erosion at this vulnerable point. A large part of the area had been eroded away a few days ago. Efforts are also on to protect embankments in this zone, officials said. If the embankments get eroded away and water level of the Ganges crosses the danger mark, three villages, including Shimultala and Biharitola, will be affected, the Kaliachak block development officer, Mr Nitesh Dhali, said. District irrigation experts apprehend that erosion problem would aggravate this year if the Ganges carry 15 lakh cusec waters to this region. The FBP authorities, meanwhile, have claimed that the anti- erosion work carried out by them at Kaliachak II, particularly at Panchanandapur and Sultantola, would be successful. Since 1971, more than 17,000 hectares of land have been eroded away from Manikchak to Kaliachak III, up to Farakka Barrage, officials said. Since 2000, over 6,000 families have been rendered homeless in the three blocks of Malda district, officials said.
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