Statesman News Service
MALDA, July 29: The irrigation officials in Malda are worried about the water level of Ganga which is still flowing above the ‘extreme danger level’ (EDL - 25.29 metres) since 21 July. The water level was recorded as 25.38 metres today. “We are unable to understand the cause of such increase in water level when there are no reports of rainfalls in upper catchments and rise of Ganga in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh,” said Mr S Misra, the executive engineer, irrigation department in Malda. At present Ganga is discharging more than 16 lakh cusec of waters through this waterway here. The red alert for the protected side of the Ganga is still on.Irrigation departmental records show that after 2003, the water level of Ganga crossed EDL of 25.29 metres this year and is flowing at 25.38 metres. The highest water level in 2003 was 26.16 metres. On 6 September, 1998, the water level of Ganga had touched 26.56 metres and the Malda district had faced devastating flood.In 1998 water level of the Ganga crossed EDL in July and in August finally the river broke its banks when its upper catchments received huge rainfall in August. The executive engineer Mr Misra is concerned about the increasing water level. Floods are feared in the area as the river will lose its capacity to hold excess water if the upper catchments receive fresh rainfalls.
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