Plea to execute river project

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept 26: Political leaders today urged the Malda district administration to execute the Tangan Valley Project (TVP) in the Barind belt in order to protect this region, a large potion of which is under paddy cultivation, from the prevailing drought like condition. This demand for TVP implementation was today voiced by the CPI-M MLA, Mr Khagen Murmu, in a meeting organised by the administration to chalk out a plan for human resource development in the district. Mr Susanta Sarkar, the Trinamul Congress Zilla Parishad member, also said that he supported Mr Murmu’s idea. It may be noted that this project failed to take off in spite of the fact that the Congress and the Left Front had backed it. Political leaders said as many as dozens of river lifting irrigation schemes were proposed for the Tangan river but with time they all have become defunct. The leaders pointed out to the district administration officials that the Tangan used to carry a large quantum of water earlier, but presently the region is bereft of a good water source for irrigation as the river has got now silted and has changed its course as a result of erosion. In today’s meeting, officials discussed the scope for development in the district keeping in mind the present scenario. They further proposed to prepare a five-year plan for the development of the district. Today’s meeting, convened by the administration, witnessed active participation from members of the district planning committee, district human development committee, and representatives of various non-governmental organisations.