Dam hopes dashed

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb 12: The executive engineer of irrigation department informed the Malda district administration their disapproval of the villagers’ demand for the construction of the proposed ninth retired embankment in Kaliachak II here today. In a letter to the executive engineer of Malda irrigation department the additional district magistrate (general) inquired about his views on villagers’ demand based on the minutes of an all political party meeting held at Kaliachak II block office in December. Villagers demanded of government's acquisition of all lands on the left bank of river before construction of the embankment. “Villagers will allow the irrigation officials to carry on if the administration acquires all lands from bank line of the Ganges to the alignment of the five km long embankment,” said executive engineer Mr S Misra. After receiving the letter from the Malda additional district magistrate the executive officer Mr S Misra said “Villagers’ demands are not feasible and it can't be accepted by the government”. “The government allotted Rs 7.75 crore for the construction of the embankment and the estimated cost of the land acquisition is about Rs 1 crore. If we acquire all lands, according to the villagers’ demand, the cost of land acquisition would crop up to Rs 90 crore roughly. Is it possible for government to allot such a huge fund for flood protection?” added Mr MisraIn a meeting with all political parties and administration at the district level a go ahead signal had been given if the department can reduce the ‘ safe distance’ of the embankment from the bank line. After the meeting, the irrigation department took a decision to reduce distance from 1200 metres to 800 metres from the bank line of the Ganges for the construction of the proposed ninth retired embankment. The plan of embankment was conceived for flood protection of at least five blocks in Malda district.