Erosion hits island on Ganga

MALDA, Aug. 12: Bhutni Diara, an island on the Ganga, in Manikchak is gradually shrinking due to erosion. According to irrigation department records, the island was more than 100 square km and the length of its circuit embankment was 34 km in 1974. Currently, the area of the island has shrunk to 64 sqkm and the length of its circuit embankment has reduced to 28 km, said Mr Soumen Misra, executive engineer, irrigation department in Malda. “Erosion is the chief cause of the island's destruction and in future more land will be eroded away,” said Mr Misra. Three rivers Ganga, Kosi and Fulohar surround the island. “We cannot take up permanent anti-erosion work on the island due to objection from the Ganga Flood Control Commission (GFCC) and Central Water Control Commission (CWC),” the executive engineer said. According to the GFCC and CWC experts, the island is responsible for erosion in the down stream from Manikchak to Kaliachak II block areas, he said. The Ganga is still nibbling away on the western side every day. n SNS