Malda combats erosion

Statesman News Service

BHUTNIDIARA, July 27: The Malda irrigation division today started anti erosion work to save the circuit embankment at Kasharpur on Bhutni Diara, an island on mid Ganga, in Manikchak block. The officials have also decided to build a dwarf embankment there as a second defence line of the circuit embankment at Kesharpur for flood prevention of the circuit embankment fails due to severe erosion. Today, the irrigation officials including the superintending engineer, north central irrigation circle, Mr ML Mitra and executive engineer of Malda irrigation division Mr S Misra visited the vulnerable spots at Kesharpur and Bagdogra in Bhutni Diara and chalked out plans to protect the present circuit embankment. The officials also examined the bank line of the Ganga from Manikchak Ghaat to Panchanandapur especially the dwarf embankment. The district magistrate Mr CR Das had instructed the executive engineer in Malda irrigation department to take up anti erosion work at Bhutni Diara, immediately to save the flood protection embankment. The block development officer in Manikchak had reported the district magistrate that severe erosion could eat up the existing embankment at Nanditola, Kesharpur and Bagdogra points in the island. In order to save nearly one lakh people from flood waters the BDO had approached the district magistrate. Mr Misra today expressed his concern about fresh erosion at the confluence point of Kosi and Ganga. “More land may be eroded away due to erosion in this area,” he added. “The waterways of Ganga have come inward nearly 150 metre," said Mr Prakash Mahata, a member of Manikchak panchayat samity. “People have lost crop land due to erosion of the Ganga at Kesharpur in the last few days,” said Mr Suresh Mahata, a member of Hiranandapur gram panchayat. According to executive engineer, the Ganga is flowing 9 cm above the ‘extreme danger level (EDL-25.29 metres) in the last six days. Today's water level is 25.38 metre at Manikchak Ghaat. Red alert for protected areas is still on in the Ganga today. “If the upper catchments (Bihar and Uttar Pradesh) receive fresh rainfall at present the present waterways of the Ganga will lose its capacity and there may devastating floods if the dwarf embankment fails at Kaliachak II,” Mr Misra said.