Lok Sabha Question No. 6246 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-02
Subject: Bank Erosion in Malda, Murshidabad and Nadia Districts
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Jagannath Sarkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6246

## ANSWERED ON 02.04.2026

## BANK EROSION IN MALDA, MURSHIDABAD AND NADIA DISTRICTS

## 6246. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  bank  erosion  in  Malda,  Murshidabad  and  Nadia districts of West Bengal and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of the total erosion and deposition recorded between 1988-2023, district-wise;

(c) the number of villages, agricultural land area and population affected due to continuous bank erosion, particularly in Ratua-I, Manikchak-Kaliachak and Dhulian reaches;

(d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  implement  the  recommended  mitigation  measures  including spurs,  revetments  and  activation  of  the  Sakri  Gali  paleo-channel  along  with  the  estimated  cost  and timeline and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether extension of the jurisdiction of Farakka Barrage Project for anti-erosion works up to 120 km has been approved or is under consideration and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)

(a) to (d) Flood management and anti-erosion schemes are formulated and implemented by concerned State Governments as per their priority. The Union Government supplements the efforts of the States by providing  technical  guidance  and  also  promotional  financial  assistance  for  management  of  floods  in critical  areas  through  a  centrally  sponsored  scheme, Flood Management  and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP).

As per the request of State Government of West Bengal, a Committee constituted by Department of Water  Resources,  River  Development  and  Ganga  Rejuvenation  comprising  members  from  the  State Government  of  West  Bengal,  Bihar,   Jharkhand  and  concerned  Central  Government  Departments  has conducted a joint detailed technical study to formulate an integrated plan to combat the threat of erosion posed  by  Ganga-Padma  river  in  its  entire  stretch  of  163  km  in  three  Districts  namely,  Malda, Murshidabad and Nadia in West Bengal and at a stretch of 15 km near Bihar-West Bengal Border. Report

of this Committee containing recommended mitigation measures of bank revetments, spur and activation of the paleo-channel, among others, in identified and prioritised critical reaches, has been provided to the concerned stakeholders for implementation.

District-wise data on erosion and deposition and the data regarding villages, agricultural land and population  affected  due  to  bank  erosion  is  not  maintained  centrally. Central  Water  Commission  has carried out a morphological study of Ganga river using Remote Sensing Techniques for the period 1970 2010, through IIT Roorkee indicating erosion of 4289.32 hectares and deposition of 724 hectares in a reach of 50 km in the upstream of Farakka Barrage.

(e) Farakka  Barrage Project undertakes river bank protection/anti-erosion works in critical reaches in its jurisdiction (upto 12.5 km in the upstream of Farakka Barrage and 6.9 km in the downstream of Farakka Barrage)  for  the  safety  and  security  of  Farakka  Barrage  and  its  appurtenant  structures.  There  is  no proposal under the consideration of the Government for the extension of the jurisdiction of the Farakka Barrage Project.

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