Flood fear in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 29: Malda irrigation department hoisted a yellow signal on the left bank of the Ganges after the water-level crossed the 24.38 metre danger mark at the Manikchak ghat here today to alert residents in the neighbouring “unprotected zones” of the possibility of floods. The executive engineer, Mr S Mishra, said the water-level in the Ganges had already crossed the 24.38 metres mark at the Manikchak ghat here. He said it was likely that the water-level would slowly rise further in the next 72 hours. Mr Mishra said if the water level rose further, the department would be forced to a hoist a red signal within the next five days to alert people residing along the Ganges bank-line here. “If a heavy rainfall occurs in the upper catchment areas such as Kahelgaon, Gandhighaat and Bhagalpur again, the water level of the Ganges in this region will rise further,” warned the executive engineer. Mr S Mishra said that contractors had already started sealing culverts and raising the height of PWD roads since Thursday under the guidance of engineers from Panchanandapur and Bangitola areas. He said that these emergency flood preventive measures would help check spillage of the flood-water from the burgeoning Ganges in the surrounding Kaliachak II areas. Officials approached the district magistrate yesterday asking him to take initiatives to build the ninth retired embankment at Kaliachak II block as a permanent flood preventive measure. The DM was also informed that the irrigation department had submitted a proposal to the land acquisition department this year, but allegedly they took no initiative in this matter. The officials said that owing to the villagers’ opposition and reluctance of political leaders, the anti-flood works could not be completed. According to the irrigation officials, another temporary ‘erosion-checking’ measure at Bagdogra and Balutola villages was in the pipeline to save the circuit embankment at Bhutni Diara, an island amid the Ganges in Manikchak block.