Statesman News Service
MALDA, 14 AUG.: Sending warning signals about the unprotected zone of the Fulohar river, engineers of Mahananda division have started extending the width of a damaged embankment in a particular point at Bhaluka Bazaar in Harishchandrapur for holding off flood waters today.
The existing embankment at Bhaluka Bazaar ~ near a banyan tree and a pond ~ is vulnerable due to erosion and can be completely destroyed at any moment. The most vulnerable spot is the 50-metre point where the remaining embankment on the brink of collapsing.
According to departmental engineers, unbridled erosion continues 400 metres upstream from Bhaluka Bazaar. Despite ongoing efforts, part of the embankment at that particular point was eroded away a few days ago.
To hold off the flood waters the engineers are extending the width of the embankment, covering nearly 130 metres of the vulnerable spot. There is no adequate land for building an embankment for permanent flood protection.
“The erosion situation is critical at Bhaluka Bazaar and we are keeping close watch on the situation”, said Malda DM Mr. Sridhar Ghosh. The water level of the Fulohar is rising. Today, the flood control cell recorded its level at more than 26.90 metres. The water level of the river Fulohar will frequently fluctuate till mid-September due to rainfall in its catchments. It is interesting to know that the water level of the Ganga did not cross 23 metre this year due to lack of rain in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
“Compared to the general trend of the last 10 years, the present water level of Ganga is surprising. The water level of the Ganga was 25.62 metre on 22 July, 2008, but this year the water level has not risen above 23 metre”, said Mr S Misra, executive engineer, Malda division.
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