Erosion at Kaliachak

Statesman News Service

MALDA Sept. 6: Anti-erosion work, carried out last year, along the bankline of the Ganges at Bangitola in Kaliachak II was washed away due to a heavy erosion last night, officials said today. Officials said that over 1,000 square metres of boulder-pitching work, completed last year to protect the bankline, got eroded away due to heavy fluctuation in water level of the Ganges here. They warned that damage of the anti-erosion work last night, coupled with inadequate maintenance, has made the region highly vulnerable. State irrigation officials said in the next five days the water level of the Ganges is expected to rise due to heavy showers in its upper catchments a few days ago. A senior official of the Malda irrigation department said: “This particular stretch of land here is being considered vulnerable because the safe distance between the state highway and the bankline of the Ganges is only about 1,500 metres.” Villagers residing in regions adjoining the Ganges here had to shift base earlier apprehending erosion on the left bank of the river. Few families still residing in the area have, reportedly, got their bags packed to shift to a safer zone seeing the present trend of erosion in the Ganges. It was learnt that block officials rushed to the areas adjoining the Ganges to help families shift base from there last night. But, thankfully the erosion in the Ganges lasted only for an hour.