Embankment plan in quandary

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan. 10: The proposed ninth retired embankment project for flood protection in Malda has been stalled after the villagers protested and claimed compensation for an entire five km long stretch, the Malda irrigation executive engineer, Mr S Misra said today. Mr Misra yesterday met the chief engineer II, Mr SK Samata, and the secretary, state irrigation and waterways department, Mr TK Mitra, in Kolkata and spoke about the matter in details. Both of them said that funds of Rs 7.52 crore, which was allotted for the proposed ninth retired embankment in Kaliachak II would be diverted, if the villagers and the local political party leaders do not extend cooperation to develop the flood protection measures on the left bank of the Ganges, Mr Misra said. Mr Misra further informed the matter officially to the higher authorities, including the district magistrate and the Malda zilla parishad sabhadhipati. In his letter to the authorities, Mr Misra stated that the Malda irrigation division would not be held responsible for devastating floods this year. The water level of the river might cross the danger mark due to noncooperation by the villagers and the local political party leaders. It may be noted that after receiving the green signal at the all-political party meeting held on 4 December, 2007, at the district level, the block administration and the irrigation officials held another conference at Kaliachak II on Tuesday, seeking cooperation from the locals for acquiring lands for the proposed project. Though the local leaders agreed to accept the present alignment, keeping a safe distance of 700 to 800 metres from the bank, the local leaders claimed that the government would have to acquire lands which will come under the unprotected zone after the completion of the embankment. They also claimed the new valuation of land as compensation for land acquisition, rejecting the old system of land valuation for acquisition. Thirdly, they warned that they would allow irrigation officials to begin work when the administration would complete payment of compensation. After receiving the demands made by the local administrative officials, the Malda district magistrate, Mr CR Das, said: “How is it ever possible to pay compensation to everyone? If they do not want an embankment, the project would be dropped.” The administration and the irrigation officials wanted to compensate only those lands which would be acquired for the construction of the five km long ninth retired embankment. But the local leaders demanded that the government would have to pay compensation for lands located between the bank of the river and the embankment. “Their claim is absurd. There is no such government system for acquisition of land for embankment. We will do nothing further for building the embankment and would not be held responsible for floods,” said Mr Misra. It may recalled that the Malda administration could not build the retired embankment over three years due to the villagers’ protest.