Parliament Question: Erosion due to River Ganga in West Bengal

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 907 ANSWERED ON 23.07.2026 EROSION DUE TO RIVER GANGA IN WEST BENGAL 907. Md ABU TAHER KHAN: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware of the severe river erosion along the Ganga in Farakka, Samsherganj, Suti and Jangipur areas of Murshidabad district, West Bengal and if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of the funds sanctioned for anti-erosion and river bank protection works in Murshidabad district during the last five years; and (c) whether any comprehensive project has been proposed for addressing Ganga river erosion in Murshidabad district and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY) (a) to (c) Erosion and deposition are natural geomorphic processes that occur in all alluvial reaches of rivers such as the Ganga. As per the request of the Government of West Bengal, a Committee was constituted by Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation to conduct a joint detailed technical study for formulating an integrated plan to address threat of erosion posed by the Ganga-Padma river system in West Bengal. The Report of the Committee has been shared with the State Governments of West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand, and other stakeholders. Based on the data for the period 1988-2023, the Committee, in its Report, has indicated erosion of 10,244 hectares and deposition of 12,411 hectares along the Ganga-Padma river system, primarily in West Bengal. During the last five years, a flood management project of the Government of West Bengal, namely, “Improvement of embankment and ancillary works in Kandi and other adjoining areas of Murshidabad district (WB-18)”, benefitting Murshidabad district, has been provided central assistance of Rs 44.15 crore in 2021-22 and Rs 14.278 crore in 2026-27. Further, Farakka Barrage Project (FBP), a Subordinate Organisation under Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation undertakes river bank protection/anti-erosion works in critical reaches in its jurisdiction (upto 12.5 km in the upstream and 6.9 km in the downstream of Farakka Barrage), as per the recommendations of Technical Advisory Committee of FBP, necessitated for the safety and security of the Farakka Barrage and its appurtenant structures. FBP has undertaken Rs 5.60 crore of river bank protection/anti-erosion works in its jurisdiction in Murshidabad during last five years. *****