Rs 125 Cr central fund to fight Ganga erosion: Pranab

Farakka, Apr 7 (UNI) The Centre has sanctioned Rs 125 crore to combat Ganga erosion in Murshidabad and Malda districts of West Bengal, according to External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Of the total fund, Rs 37 crore had already been allocated, Mukherjee told a news conference here yesterday.

Mukherjee along with Union Water Resources minister Saifuddin Soz and West Bengal's Irrigation minister Subhash Naskar had made an aerial survey of the erosion affected areas.

The External Affairs minister said besides erosion, the Kandi Master plan and Ghatal and Kapileswari Master plan have already been submitted.

Farakka barrage authorities have been entrusted with the responsibility of combating the erosion, he added.

He said erosion has been accorded top priority in his ministry.

"Fund will not be a problem. Each year people in and around 109 km border areas are severely affected by the erosion of the river," Mukherjee pointed out.

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