Flood alert issued by irrigation department

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 17:- The irrigation department in Malda, today, alerted the district administration about the forthcoming flood, following the rise of water level in all rivers, including the mighty Ganges.The executive engineer, Malda irrigation department, Mr Soumen Misra, today, instructed supervising staff to inspect all embankments on the banks of three major rivers- Ganges, Mahananda and Fulohar.“The supervising staff were asked to look for weaker embankments for immediate repairment in a bid to prevent flood”, Mr Misra said.The decision was taken, after they were informed of the rising water level by the GFCC (Ganga Flood Control Commission) office, in Patna, this morning. “Water level of Ganges, in eleven points, from Allahabad to Sahebganj, is rising steadily, due to heavy rainfall in all the catchments. The water level of Ganges, which is 24.90 metres at Manikchak Ghaat, this mid-day, will cross the danger mark, tomorrow”, Mr Misra struck a note of warning. Rivers, including Mahananda and Fulohar, are swelling considerably, due to unabated rainfall in their catchments.According to the report of the GFCC, rivers, Sone and Ghagra, are no better, following non-stop rainfall, in the last two days. As it continues pelting down in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the excess river water is gushing into the Ganges. Excessive flood waters will also not spare this region, irrigation officials said.At present, more than 13 lakh cusec of water has been discharged through the Ganges waterway. The Malda irrigation officials anticipate more erosion at Domhaat, Manikchak. Huge volume of water, from the Ganges, has hit Domhaat and its adjoining areas massively.Fearing fresh erosion, residents of Domhaat Bazaar have already started shifting from their present places to safer areas. According to them, the Bazaar is only 100 metres away from the bank. The area between them may be wiped out, any moment, due to water pressure. The Farakka Barrage Project (FBP) was fighting erosion at Domhaat. But it could not save certain areas on the left bank of the Ganges, a few days ago. The FBP is dealing with the sluice gates of Farakka Barrage, discharging excessive water, to save its left bank from the clutches of absolute erosion.