Flood warning issued in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 4: The executive engineer of irrigation and waterways department Mr Soumen Misra has predicted ‘devastating flood’ in Malda this year for lack of a second defence line of flood protection embankment on the left bank of the Ganges. Addressing a preparatory meeting of flood management convened by the district magistrate Mr C R Das yesterday, the executive engineer Mr Misra said: “The Malda district will be inundated by flood waters from the Ganges if the sixth retired embankment is eroded away this monsoon.” “We do not have alternative arrangement to prevent flood waters because we could not build the proposed ninth retired embankment due to several reasons in last three years on the left bank of Ganges”, he reminded. “At present the safe distance between bank line of the Ganges and the existing sixth retired embankment is nearly 300 to 400 metres at down stream of Domhat in Manikchak block in this vulnerable zone. We fear that due to severe erosion, the existing structure may get wiped out because last year the Ganges moved 500 metres inwards on the eastern side eroding away its bank line,” he added. After adopting resolutions for necessary arrangement of flood management it was decided that the district magistrate Mr C R Das, the Malda superintendent of police Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhyay and concerned officials including the officials of Farakka Barrage Project would visit the vulnerable zone soon. It may be noted that the FBP has already taken up 1600 metres bank line protection work (anti erosion) at Domhaat in Manikchak and it would start anti erosion work in another 800 metres stretch of bank line near Manikchak Ghaat area to stem destruction of bank line. The FBP has also taken up another 1.2 km bank line protection work at Shimultala near FBP in Kaliachak III block.Predicting possibility of severe erosion this year, the executive engineer Mr Misra said: “ We need to take up 5 km long bank line protection work from the up stream of Manikchak Ghaat. Erosion at vulnerable points, where there is no bank protection work, on the bank of the Ganges may wash away the present embankments,” he cautioned.