Flood situation worsens in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 23: Flood situation in Malda has deteriorated inundating unprotected areas of six blocks where nearly 50,000 people have been affected.While the Ganga is flowing more than five cm above the ‘extreme danger level’ (EDL - 25.29 metres) from Manikchak to Farrakka, another river Fulohar, connected with it, is rising steadily since yesterday inundating unprotected areas like Bilaimari and Mahanandatola islands. Thousands of residents from Bilaimari and Mahanandatola are facing difficulty as the places are water logged. The district magistrate Mr C R Das today sought reports from all the BDOs regarding flood situation and number of affected persons. The administration and the Farakka Barrage Project (FBP) authorities are worried about a vulnerable point of an embankment at Gandharitola near Simultala in Kaliachak block III where the Ganga is threatening the newly constructed embankment. The FBP could not complete embankment at Shimultola area owing to villagers’ resistance after land acquisition there. But the water level of the Ganga in this area continues to rise steadily due to the constricted zone near Farakka Barrage. It may be pointed out that the width of the Ganga between Manikchak and Kaliachak II is more than 10 km but in the down stream of Kaliachak III block area, near Farakka Barrage, the width of the Ganga is more than 2 km. As a result, the water level of the Ganga is comparatively higher than up stream. The irrigation officials today deployed its workers to keep vigilance on embankments for emergency restoration at three points in Kaliachak II and Manikchak block areas. To save another circuit embankment at Kasharpur at Bhutni Diara, an island, in Manikchak the irrigation department today has taken up measures to check erosion of Ganga.Large part of unprotected areas of three blocks on bank of the Ganga was inundated rendering hundreds of people homeless.“The water level of the Ganga has fallen only four cm from 6 am to 12 pm today for the first time in this spell. We hope , water level would be falling more from tomorrow if upper catchments ( Bihar and Uttar Pradesh) do not receive heavy rains”, said Mr. S Misra, executive engineer , Malda irrigation division.According to him, the water level of the Ganga was 25.38 metres, nine cm above the EDL, from yesterday evening to 6am this morning. But around12 pm today, the water level of the Ganga was recorded as 25.34 metres. The irrigation engineers predict fresh erosion at Jotepatta near Domhaat in Manikchak, where the existing embankment may be threatened, if severe erosion eats up large track of land due to fluctuation water level of the Ganga.