Bengal seeks Central intervention to stop erosion

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Kolkata, Jul 11 (UNI) The West Bengal government has urged the Centre to take more effective and immediate steps to prevent erosion by the Ganges in Malda and Murshidabad districts creating a dangerous situation.

Replying to a query of SUCI's Debaprasad Sarkar, Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Subhash Naskar informed the Assembly that more than 1000 hectares of land, having hundreds of houses and farmland, had been claimed by the Ganges during the past four months of unabated erosion in the two districts.

He said while 781 hectares had already been swallowed by the river in Malda, nearly 150 hectares were claimed by the rain-fed river in neighbouring Murshidabad forcing thousands of people to flee.

''With limited resources the state government has taken up ten projects to prevent unabated erosion in the two districts. We are still awaiting a positive response from the Centre in dealing with the crisis,'' he said.

He, however, complimented Central initiative in setting up embankments along the Ganges between Farakka and Jalangi in Murshidabad district but said more such efforts were needed to prevent further catastrophe.

Several other members, cutting across political differences, expressed serious concern at the danger posed by the river in several districts of the state.

Later to a question of Trinamool Congress's Ashis Banerjee, Animal Husbandary Minister Anisur Rehman said the government had decided to set up 15 more milk chilling plants during the current financial year at a cost of Rs five crores to take the total number to 60 from 45.

He said against the daily demand of 6.5 million tonnes of milk in the state, the 2944 milk co-operative societies had been able to produce only about 3.8 million tonnes under the organised sector, leaving the prospect of meeting the remaining demand to the members of the unorganised sector.

UNI ABA TJP PL AB 1318

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