Urgent need of anti-erosion project at Bhaluka

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 15 FEB: The executive engineer of the irrigation department in Malda,Mr S Misra (on Friday 12 February) has requested the district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh to arrange for funds from alternative sources for immediate implementation of permanent anti-erosion work at Bhaluka in Harishchandrapur on the bank of river Fulohar.

Mr Misra was forced to request the district magistrate due to the delay in the sanctioning of funds for this project from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard).

The irrigation division in Malda had submitted the anti-erosion project to the district magistrate in September 2009 after receiving clearance from the chief engineers’ committee of the irrigation and waterways department.

The district administration took initiative to allot funds for this project from RIDF-XV (Rural Infrastructure Development Fund) which is controlled by the Nabard. The project was sent to the Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner so that it reaches the government on time.

Though the divisional commissioner had recommended the state government for the project but the file was reportedly gathering dust in finance department since October. The estimated cost of the project is nearly Rs 9 crore.

Today, the file was cleared from the finance department and it is now ready for the consideration of Nabard.

Interestingly, the deadline for sanctioning funds from RIDF-XV was 31 January 2010.

The executive engineer Mr S Misra said: “We need to start anti erosion work by March this year to save the existing embankments which were constructed last year after monsoon at vulnerable zone at Bhaluka in Harishchandrapur on the bank of Fulohar. In June, flood waters will be coming and the existing flood protection works will be wiped out due to erosion in June this year”.

“We are concern about the vulnerable spot at Bhaluka. If the funds are not available soon we will not be able to start work in March after floating the tender. We requested the district magistrate to arrange alternative funds to start the work immediately. Contractors’ payment would be made latter when the Nabard would sanction the funds from RIDF-XVI”, Mr Misra said.