Malda river erosion could put the district’s urban areas and transport infrastructure at serious risk, West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal said after inspecting flood- and erosion-affected areas on Sunday.
Agarwal visited extensive parts of Bhutni Char and Ratua and reviewed the conditions along the Ganga, Fulhar and Kosi rivers. He said the Ganga had shifted nearly 6 kilometres from its earlier course over the past 50 years, while the distance between the Ganga and the Fulhar had narrowed to about 750 metres in Malda.
According to the chief secretary, the two rivers could merge within the next six or seven years if the current situation continues. He warned that such a development could allow water to enter Malda city and Ratua, while damaging railway tracks, highways and other infrastructure. “If this continues, the 750-metre distance will disappear into the Ganga within six or seven years. Water will enter Malda city and Ratua. Everything from railway lines to highways will be affected,” he said, according to the report.
The warning follows another year of flooding in Malda. River erosion has affected agricultural land, homes and schools across vulnerable areas, with parts of settlements and farmland reported to have been lost to the river. The areas repeatedly affected include Bhutni in Manikchak, English Bazar, Ratua and the Kaliachak-III block.
The chief secretary said the administration was examining the conditions of the Ganga, Fulhar and Kosi rivers together. He also said a meeting would be held soon to discuss possible measures. “I cannot solve this problem alone. We have come to inspect the situation. There is no problem of funds. It is possible to undertake erosion-control work with coordination and the consent of Jharkhand and Bihar,” Agarwal said.
The state government has already begun gathering technical inputs. A team from IIT Kanpur has visited affected areas to prepare a detailed project report on a permanent solution to river erosion. Engineers from the West Bengal irrigation department also inspected erosion-affected locations on Saturday. The chief secretary reviewed the situation by air on Sunday.
The issue has implications beyond immediate flood relief. A changing river course can affect settlements, farmland, schools and roads simultaneously, while the possible narrowing between the Ganga and Fulhar raises concerns about the safety of Malda’s wider transport and urban systems. The state government has said work is under way to protect Malda, Murshidabad and Nadia from Ganga erosion.
Agarwal said a meeting on the matter was also scheduled to take place in Delhi. The proposed discussions, the IIT Kanpur project report and coordination among West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand are expected to shape the next phase of the state’s response.
