Statesman News Service
MALDA, 31 JULY: Erosion began this morning at a new place in Debipur-Surjapur area in Ratua block on the left bank of the river Fulohar, forcing farmers to start harvesting their standing crop earlier than normal.
The irrigation department hoisted a yellow signal in the unprotected areas of the river Fulohar when its water level crossed 26.83m. The water level is still rising due to heavy rainfall in north Bengal, said the flood control cell.
Stretching over 1.5 km, a large part of cropland has been eroded away near the present embankment, said Mr BN Das, executive engineer, Mahananda embankment division.
“Farmers were forced to start harvesting standing crops after massive erosion started this morning. Within fifteen minutes, fifteen big chunk of crop land were eroded away,” Mr Das said.
According to the irrigation engineers, the present location of the fresh erosion is just downstream of Bhaluka Bazaar, another vulnerable spot where the present embankment has already been damaged partly.
“The embankment at Bhaluka Bazaar is now safe due to ongoing anti-erosion work. Erosion started on its right bank - eroding char land which is a positive sign for saving the Bhaluka Bazaar embankment,” Mr BN Das claimed.
“But the situation is alarming at Debipur-Surjapur area where fresh erosion has started. The safe distance between the present embankment and the bank line is nearly 300ft,” Mr Das added.
The executive engineer also disclosed: “Apprehending erosion at the new spot, we had estimated a plan of Rs. 3.5 lakh to take palliative measures, as we do not have funds to begin emergency work there.” Villagers fear that the Fulohar River may merge again with an old course of the Kalindri if such massive erosion continues. The executive engineer, Mr BN Das, admitted that villagers’ fears have some grounds, adding that large parts of the land may be flooded.
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