Rs.1.25 bn sanctioned to combat Ganges erosion

Sat, Apr 5 10:13 PM

Kolkata, April 5 (IANS) The central government has sanctioned a fund of Rs.1.25 billion to combat the erosion of the Ganges river in Murshidabad and Malda districts of West Bengal, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Saturday.

Of the total money sanctioned, Rs.370 million has already been allocated, he said at Farakka in Malda district.

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

'Besides erosion, the Kandi Master Plan and the Ghatal and Kapileswari Master Plan have already been prepared. Farakka Barrage authorities have been entrusted the responsibility of developing erosion-hit areas in both districts,' Mukherjee said.

'The Ganges erosion has been a top priority subject and there will be no problem of funds. Each year people living in around 109 km of border areas are severely affected by the erosion of the river,' Soz said.

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