Haldia Dream comes true Town Hall History on view Ganga A report on erosiont

Report

1. Vast tracts of land on either side of the river Ganga-Bhagirathi are engulfed by recurrent erosion of the river every year, specially during and after the monsoon. Thousands are rendered homeless in the districts of Malda and Mursidabad as a result. Extensive damage of crops, consequently, has become a regular feature in the said districts. On the left bank of the Ganga, flowing past the district of Malda, a stretch of about 30 km. (upstream of Farakka Barrage) has been severely affected. A 92 km. stretch of the right bank of the river Bhagirathi, a branch of the river Ganga, has similarly been confronted with serious threats of erosion in the district of Mursidabad (downstream of Farakka barrage).
2. The land demarcation on the border of India-Bangladesh in these two districts has also been disturbed. This may lead to territorial conflicts and pose security problems. The total land loss in the district of Malda is about 2596 hectors.
3. The increasing proximity of the Ganga and the Bhagirathi downstream of Farakka Barrage (nearly 1-2 km. apart) is a matter of extreme concern. In the event of meeting of the two flows ultimately, the Barrage it self will be left redundant, disquieting the navigability of National Waterway I (Haldia to Allahabad) and upsetting the economic situation of the state of West Bengal. On top of it, the tendency of the Ganga to flow along its old course through the river Pagla in the district of Malda is also equally ominous as the course by passes the Farakka Barrage.
4. According to estimate of the state government, a sum of Rs. 185.00 crores is needed for undertaking short term measures and an amount of Rs. 567.00 crores for long term actions. The allotted funds so far, in accordance with the available reports is of Rs. 20.00 crores awarded by the Tenth Finance Commission from 1996-1997 to 1999-2000. The demand of the state government was based on recommendations of the experts’ Committee constituted by the Union Government in 1995-1996. The short term measures were prioritised by the Committee as Priority I & II. Till date, the Union Government has not responded to the recommendations of the Committee and the demand of the state government.
5. The state government’s submission to the 10th Finance Commission highlighted all aspects; but unfortunately no financial provision has recently been made on. The union Government, according to us, cannot remain silent on these critical national issue which is assuming unwieldy proportion with the passage of time. The localised measures so far taken by the department of the state government have not been effective. The situation demands a comprehensive time-bound and far-sighted planning.