Water level of Ganga recedes

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 1: District officials heaved a sigh of relief after the water level of the Ganga receded from 24.50 metres to 24.46 metres today. The sudden rise in the water level of the Ganga lately had worried the district administration about the possibility of flood here. They had, thus, alerted people residing in areas adjoining the river bank and asked them to be ready to shift base anytime for safety.The Malda district administration, it was learnt, was also worried that flood just prior to the Malda Lok Sabha by-poll scheduled for 16 September would only spell more trouble for them. A senior engineer of the Malda irrigation division said: “The sudden rise of water level in Ganga was allegedly due to release of huge quantum of water from the three dams located in its upper catchment area, including Nepal”. “River Gandak was brimming allegedly due to the water released from the Balmikinagar dam in Nepal. Whereas, rivers Sone and Kosi were overflowing due to water released from the Indrapuri and Mahakali dams few days ago”, the engineer said. “The people of Malda need not worry about floods for the moment, but the water level of the Ganga may rise again in mid-September because of the receding monsoon,” the executive engineer of the Malda irrigation division, said.Irrigation experts, however, fear that receding trend of water level of the Ganga may aggravate he erosion problem on its left in this region.