Malda’s erosion crisis: Residents desperate for Govt action as the Ganga devours villages

Malda’s erosion crisis: Residents desperate for Govt action as the Ganga devours villages

Biswabrata Goswami

KOLKATA, 20 AUG: For over four decades, the residents of Malda have faced the harsh reality of living on a land once known for its fertile rice production, now ravaged by relentless erosion. This crisis has forced many to seek work far from home, striving to make ends meet while grappling with the glaring absence of effective government intervention.

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Locals express their frustration over what they see as a stark discrepancy in governmental efforts. They point out that while the state government has constructed dams along the Ganges in neighboring Bihar, Malda has been neglected. Political parties bring up the issue during elections, but once votes are secured, promises are forgotten. Despite this, the residents cling to a glimmer of hope, anticipating intervention from both central and state governments.

This year, the monsoon arrived late across the state, with only the hills and adjoining districts of North Bengal initially receiving rains. It wasn’t until last Thursday that the monsoon finally reached Malda district, brought on by a cyclone in Jharkhand. Though the district’s rivers currently have low water levels, scientific evidence points to an increased risk of river erosion—a threat that has already become a reality in areas like Harishchandrapur 1 Block’s Rashidabad and Ratua 1 Block’s Mahanandola and Bilaimari areas.

Md Hasanuzzaman, a researcher at Vidyasagar University, highlighted the peril, stating, “We predicted the susceptibility of Ganga bank erosion, identified the villages as probable erosion-prone zones, and our findings were published in the Natural Hazards Research Journal, Elsevier.”

The erosion has already left its mark. Last year, the Ganges wiped Srikanttola in Mahanandtola off the map, and now, Kanttola village is on the brink of being erased. Over 50 percent of the residents have already relocated, and many more are preparing to dismantle their homes and move. Last Thursday, a westerly wind accelerated the erosion in Kanttola, sparking fears that the worst is yet to come, with the erosion expected to continue until October. Every time the Ganga’s waters strike the banks, the land collapses, claiming houses, temples, and mosques without discrimination. The residents believe that only fortifying the riverbanks with stone boulders, as done by the Bihar government, can save their homes and lands.

In Kanttola, ten houses have already been submerged by the Ganga, with 25 more at immediate risk. Suryanarayan Mandal, a 67-year-old resident, recounted the grim process: “Once erosion starts, the river gives no time. First, the soil cracks, and then the entire section collapses into the river. This demolition has been ongoing for a month.” He lamented the lack of action, noting that the Ganga, once 20 km away near Sahebganj in 2011, is now at their doorstep. Mandal and others believe that only embankments with stones can prevent further destruction, but lament the lack of funds from the central government, which has supported similar efforts in Bihar.

The situation turned dire in mid-August when heavy rains led to the collapse of houses in Kanttola in the dead of night. Fearful residents now brace for the loss of many more homes and the village’s Barwari Lakshmi temple. Power transformers and access to drinking water have already been compromised, forcing residents to flee with whatever possessions they can salvage.

Despite annual erosion, no permanent solution has been implemented. Last year, the irrigation department promised to reinforce the banks with sandbags during the dry season, but these promises went unfulfilled. Rakesh Toppo, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Ratua Block 1, acknowledged the multiple erosions this season, noting that temporary measures were taken with sandbags. However, with the Ganga’s water level now too high, further action is currently impossible. The irrigation department is monitoring the situation and has committed to investigating the area and implementing urgent measures to prevent further erosion.

As the Ganga’s relentless erosion continues to threaten their homes, livelihoods, and places of worship, the people of Malda hold onto a fragile hope that their pleas for help will not go unanswered.

Tags: #Erosion #Ganga #Malda

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