Cop camp for flood prevention

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 10: Finally the Malda district administration has decided to set up a police camp at Domhat in Manikchak to continue anti-erosion and flood protection to avoid tout-like opposition from the villagers.This resolution was adopted at the meeting of all political parties held yesterday following objections lodged by the Farakka Barrage Project authorities.It was decided that the FBP officials would start the anti-erosion work with the protection of state police and CISF, FBP's own security guards. On Sunday, the district administrative officials including the district magistrate, superintendent of police and the district judge visited the belt of Ganges and found that anti-erosion work was stalled at Domhat following pressure from the locals.Official sources alleged that local touts backed by political groups were demanding tax (TOLA) from the contractors mobilising villagers to raise voice against the poor quality of work. Having failed to bear excessive pressure from such villagers the FBP officials decided to stop work and informed the district administration about the situation.The FBP is protecting 1700 metres bank line of the Ganges at Domhat to stem severe erosion in the identified vulnerable zone and it has targeted to finish the work by 15 July. The FBP officials also said villagers at Simultala area started an agitation demanding immediate compensation of their land acquired by the administration.Due to this problem the FBP officials were facing difficulties tofinish an extended part of a marginal embankment to prevent Ganges flood water.The FBP was constructing a dyke there just to close the existing marginal embankment which was breached due toerosion last year.Yesterday the district officials urged all political party leaders andheld a meeting with the local land owners who offer their land for the construction of the dyke to protect Kaliachak III block area fromflooding. The administrative officials promised that the land owners would be compensated on time after completion of some official papers of landacquisition and urged them to extend cooperation to finish the flood protection job.