Bengal government to seek Jharkhand’s nod to dredge Ganga riverbed to curb erosion in Malda

The Bengal government would seek a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Jharkhand government to dredge the Ganga riverbed in the neighbouring state’s Rajmahal area to eliminate recurring erosion caused by the river in Malda.

Bengal chief secretary Manoj Agarwal identified the cause of recurring erosion and floods caused by the Ganga in Malda during an aerial survey on Sunday.

“The state government wants a permanent solution to the erosion caused by the Ganga. During the aerial survey, silt deposition on a 16km stretch of the river in the Rajmahal area of the neighbouring state was found. If dredging is conducted on that stretch, the river’s depth will increase and nearly 40 per cent of the water would not flow into the river channels near Malda. This will resolve the flooding problem in Malda,” said a senior official.

Reviving the old course of the Ganga in Rajmahal, however, would require an NOC from the Jharkhand government. Sources said the state government would soon seek the NOC.

According to sources, the chief secretary took note of the ground realities by conducting an aerial survey of Bhutni islet in Manikchak block, Ratua-I block, and the Ganga, Fulhar and Kosi channels, before holding meetings with district officials and elected representatives.

“Later, in a meeting with officials from Bihar, Jharkhand and Bengal’s irrigation department, the problem was discussed in detail. All agreed that if the old course of the river can be revived in Rajmahal, the pressure of water in the Ganga channels would definitely recede in Malda’s affected zones. All agreed to attend to the issue with utmost urgency,” said a source.

A section of officials said getting the NoC from the Jharkhand government would not be a major problem, as silt deposited in the Rajmahal area in Jharkhand has made the area flood-prone, and the state government was looking to address the issue.

“The Bengal government would also get technical and financial support from the Centre to complete the project as the top BJP leaders had promised to resolve the problems of erosion and floods in Malda and Murshidabad areas,” said an official.

Addressing the problem could be important for the BJP ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.

“The BJP is eyeing to win the maximum number of seats from Bengal in the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. The erosion of the Ganga and regular floods caused by it affect at least four Lok Sabha seats in Malda and Murshidabad. If the BJP can address the issue, it would be in a good position in these Lok Sabha seats,” said a source.

Senior officials said a meeting would soon be held in Delhi where the problem of recurring erosion and floods caused by Ganga in Malda and its adjoining areas would be discussed.

Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari is likely to attend the meeting where senior Delhi officials will be present, along with officials from Bihar and Jharkhand. “This gives a clear hint that both the Centre and the state government were very serious about addressing the problems,” saidan official.