Embankment repair stalled due to rains

MALDA, June 18: Bad weather and incessant rains have hampered the ongoing work for flood protection and anti erosion across Malda district since Monday, irrigation officials said today. According to the executive engineer, Malda irrigation division, Mr S Misra, ongoing maintenance and repair works of remaining parts of embankment number four, five, six and seven as well as some dwarf embankment on the bank of Ganges have been hampered due to continuous rain. Other repairing works for damaged part of embankments on the banks of river Fulohar, Mahananda, Tangan, Punarbhaba has been stalled due to rain. The executive engineer, Mr S Misra said: “The work cannot be completed till it's dry. The entire work will take 10 days more”. According to district administrative officials, the Farakka Barrage authorities are in short of labourers and sand to build a ‘circuit’ embankment near Shimultala in Kaliachak-III to stop flood waters from Ganges due to rain. Officials said that engineers are trying hard to complete anti erosion work for bank line protection of Ganges at Domhaat in Manikchak block area. “Engineers want to finish the anti erosion work before water level touches the danger mark”, officials said. The Malda irrigation officials said the water level of the Ganges is rising but it is far below from the danger mark now. The present water level of Ganges is now 22 metre. “Besides the Ganges, water level of Mahananda, Tangan, Punarbhaba and Fulohar are also rising but at present there is no possibility of flood in Malda”, said Mr S Misra, executive engineer, Malda irrigation. n SNS