Statesman News Service
MALDA, March 3: The irrigation and water ways department in Malda has taken up series of flood and erosion protection works on the rivers Ganges, Mahananda, Sreemati, Punarbhaba and Tangan in this district. The estimated cost of the projects is nearly Rs. 32 crore. But the department could not take up main flood protection work (ninth retired embankment) on the left bank of the Ganges in Kaliachak II due to protest by villagers. If the department could start the work for ninth retired embankment, the estimated cost nearly Rs. 7 crore may be returned, official sources said.According to the executive engineer of Malda irrigation department, Mr S Misra, erosion protection is almost completed at Satgharia near Kotwali in English Bazaar on the bank of river Mahananda to save two mosques, houses and a ferry ghaat. The estimated funds nearly Rs 44 lakh was allotted from RIDF - XII (Rural Infrastructure Development Fund) from NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development). At Mashaldighi-Maria Kundu area in Gazole Block, the irrigation department has been repairing and strengthening a circuit embankment on the river Sreemati, a tributary of the Mahananda, including inspection road estimating Rs.1.98 crore. A sluice gate would also be built there which was washed away in 1998 due to devastating flood.Based on the funds available from RIDF -XIII the irrigation department has floated tender for five flood and erosion protection works. At Kuriadaha, Kanchanbill and Itakhola-Anandipur villages in Gazole Block embankment and 6th and 7th retired emba-nkment on the left bank of the Ganges in English Bazaar and Manikchak B lock areas. The estimated cost of these projects is Rs.91 lakh and Rs. 74 lakh respectively. The Malda irrigation department has also planned to take up repairing and strengthening work on a part of the existing circuit embankment at Bhutni Diara, an island in the Ganges, in Manikchak block. Nearly Rs. 2.20 crore has been sanctioned from 12 finance commission. A five km long inspection path will be made on the spill checking embankment near down stream of Farakka . Nearly Rs. 82 lakh has been estimated for the job from Mondai to N H Loco Colony connecting national high way 34 in Kaliachak III block.“The department has planned to finish the job before monsoon”, said Mr. S Misra , the executive engineer.Besides, the department is preparing another anti erosion schemes for the protection of barbed wire fencing along the India Bangladesh border on the river of Mahananda and Punarbha after receiving clearance for the central water commission.The department has estimated Rs. 16 crore covering three blocks Old Malda, Habibpur and Bamongola , close to the border.
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