Irrigation dept visit erosion hit areas

MALDA, Aug. 27: The minister for irrigation and waterways department Mr Subhas Naskar and top departmental officials today gauged vulnerable condition of an Island in the Ganga, which is gradually eroding away, in Manikchak block and discussed the matter with the district officials.The objective of his visit along with the chief engineer II and secretary of this department was to sanction funds to check erosion after destruction of the present circuit embankment. It may be noted that the district irrigation officials demanded at least Rs. 1 crore to check erosion temporarily and to build another retired embankment for future flood protection at a recent meeting held in Kolkata convened by the minister a few weeks ago.The minister told the executive engineer of the irrigation department in Malda that funds would be sanctioned after measuring the situation of that vulnerable area.It may be recalled that the irrigation department would not be able to take up any permanent nature of work to check erosion at Bhutni Diara Island due to the objection from the Ganga Flood Control Commission and the Central Water Commission.Speaking on the occasion the minister said that the department would take measures to check erosion following the guidelines of experts at a time when the ‘disappearence’ of a large part of this Island is a serious concern for hundreds of people living there. The irrigation department and experts of the GFCC and CWC forecast that a large part of the island would be eroded away in coming years. n SNS