Irrigation dept starts anti-erosion work

MALDA, July 22: The irrigation department in Malda today began emergency anti erosion works on a 500 meter stretch of the bank of the river Punarbhaba in the Bamongola block area. The work is designed to save several houses and a high school from falling into the river. “To save the land we need to construct spur to ‘deflect’ water flows of the river Punarbhaba at Kupadaha so it can not eat up the land”, said Mr. S Misra, the executive engineer, of the Malda irrigation department. The Mahananda embankment division in Malda has also started anti-erosion work at Bhaluka Bazaar to save an existing flood protection embankment from erosion by the river Fulohar In the last three days the water level of the river Fulohar has been fluctuating frequently and eroding its banks in northern part of Malda district. Water levels in rivers across the region such as the Tangan, Punarbhaba, Kalindri, Mahananda, Srimati and the mighty river Ganges are have all been rising in recent days. Red alerts from yesterday are still active in protected areas of four blocks on the bank of the river Ganges and on the unprotected side of the river Fulohar. According to the Malda irrigation officials, the water level of the Ganges is seven cm above the ‘extreme danger mark’ (EDL- 25.29 metres) as of mid day today. “The water level of Ganga is now steady. We expect that water level will be receding from tomorrow if upper catchments (Bihar and Uttar Pradesh) do not receive fresh rainfalls”, said Mr. S Misra. The district magistrate has alerted all block development officials to monitor the flood situation in order to ensure that disaster management authorities are given sufficient warning. n SNS