July 24, 2024
Mausam Noor’s Zero Hour mention on protecting the people of Malda district from the erosion of the banks of Ganga and Fulahar
Sir, my Zero Hour today is ‘Demand to take necessary steps to stop erosion by the Ganga river in Malda, West Bengal’. Sir, thank you for accepting my Zero Hour as the first notice. Sir, my Zero Hour today.. Sir, my Zero Hour today is, Demand to take necessary steps to stop.. Sir, thank you for accepting my Zero Hour as the first notice. You have been very generous. However, the Finance Minister has not been generous at all. Zero has been given to Bengal in the Budget and zero has been given to battle the floods of Malda. So, here I am in the Parliament speaking for the people of Malda Uttar and Malda Dakshin on behalf of the Trinamool Congress. Every year, during the monsoon, Malda, where I hail from, is devastated by major floods and erosions by the Rivers of Ganga, Mahananda, Fulahar and Tangon but, this year, it is more alarming as, over the course of time, the rivers have changed its direction and the distance between the two major Rivers, Ganga and Fulahar, has come down to only 700 metres which was earlier almost eight kilometres apart. Sir, if these rivers merge, there will be a huge disaster causing colossal damage. Huge areas of lands will be engulfed by the rivers. People will lose their lands, mango orchards, farming fields and the situation will render lakhs of people homeless. Especially affected are the Blocks of Kaliachak 3, Kaliachak 2, Manikchak Ratua 1 where the Ganga flows and Harischandrapur 2, Chachal 2 where the Fulahar flows. Sir, since this issue comes under the purview of the Central Government, our hon. Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee has several times asked the Ministry of Water Resources and Farraka Barrage to conduct anti-erosion works and to come up with a permanent solution. Specifically in February, 2022, she wrote to the Ministry of Water Resources requesting to restore the extended 120 kilometres jurisdiction of the Farakka Barrage Protection Authority. Earlier, during the UPA regime, anti-erosion and bank protection works had been conducted several times in the affected areas. But, unfortunately, since 2014, the Farakka Barrage has failed to combat the situation and take any major actions. . Sir, I have also raised this matter several times in Zero Hour and also through Special Mention, and since the situation has turned extremely alarming as Ganga and Fulahar might merge and create havoc in the aforementioned areas, through you, I once again appeal to the Government to look into this immediately. A permanent solution is needed and is needed urgently. If this issue is not looked into, many lives, lands, public and private property will be lost forever. Thank you, Sir.
