Bengal government allocates Rs 100 crore to handle floods in northern region

SILIGURI: The West Bengal government has come up with a work plan to handle floods in North Bengal as the monsoon arrived in the state.

Environment activists, however, wondered whether it could address problems like over siltation of rivers.

"We are forming special task forces and opening a 24 hour control room. In addition, a Rs 100 crore fund has been set with north Bengal's share of Rs 20 crore in it," said state Irrigation Minister R Banerjee.

"While we appreciate the initiative, a deeper approach is needed towards the root causes of this annual flooding. On an average, floods wash out more than 2.5 lakh hectare agricultural land every year," said environment activists.

"All the major rivers in North Bengal - Teesta, Torsha, Raidak, Kaljani, Leesh and Gheesh - are suffering from over siltation.

Deforestation, civil construction and several other increased human activities in the hills are causing the top soil to loosen, resulting in increased debris flowing down the rivers.

This increases the height of river beds and reduces the water retaining capacity.

The extra water overflows to agricultural land on both sides, filling them with sand," explained eminent geologist S. Sarkar.

Floods cause a crisis in the forest areas too.

"Deep within the Buxa Tiger Reserve the riverbeds swell up 25cm per year. Every monsoon, the extra hydroload enters inside the nearby jungle area and deposit the fresh debris making the land sterile," said former BTR field director.

Teesta is one of the main rivers which has increased in size by over 100% during the last 30 years. At places, it is more than five km wide but dry and and full of sand. Recent satellite images show over 25 per cent of North Bengal's foothills under the threat of sand cover.

"Along with short term measures, long term steps must be taken to save agriculture in north Bengal," environment activists said.