Archive · 4 Sep 2026
West Bengal Plans Joint Long-Term Response To Riverbank Erosion
Heavy rain and floods are washing away soil and riverbanks in parts of West Bengal.
This has damaged homes, farmland and villages.
Malda is facing especially serious erosion along the Ganga and Fulhar rivers.
More than 100 houses and thousands of hectares of farmland in Ratua were reportedly lost this year.
West Bengal plans to work with Bihar and Jharkhand to find a lasting solution.
Experts from IIT Kanpur may also help design the plan.
For now, officials are carrying out rescue, relief and shelter work.
Water released from two reservoirs has also increased flood risks in several districts.
Officials said no embankment had breached in the Lower Damodar region.
West Bengal is developing a long-term plan to address riverbank and soil erosion caused by heavy rain and floods.
The plan will involve Bihar and Jharkhand governments, coordination meetings and experts from IIT Kanpur.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said immediate rescue, relief and shelter operations are underway.
Malda is the worst-affected district, with erosion reported in Ratua, Manikchak and Kaliachak along the Ganga and Fulhar rivers.
Damodar Valley Corporation water releases from Maithon and Panchet reservoirs have triggered flood alerts in five downstream districts.
- Who
- The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, with the governments of Bihar and Jharkhand and experts from IIT Kanpur.
- What
- Officials are formulating a long-term plan to address riverbank erosion while conducting emergency flood-relief operations.
- When
- The announcement was made on September 4, 2026, after heavy rain over the preceding days.
- Where
- West Bengal, particularly Malda and downstream districts affected by Damodar Valley Corporation releases.
- Why
- Heavy rainfall, flooding and released reservoir water have caused soil erosion, inundated villages and threatened homes and farmland.
- Worst-affected district
- Malda
- Erosion-prone areas
- Ratua, Manikchak and Kaliachak
- Affected rivers
- Ganga and Fulhar
- Reported losses in Ratua
- More than 100 houses and several thousand hectares of agricultural land
- Reservoirs involved
- Maithon and Panchet reservoirs
- Flood-alert districts
- Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura, Hooghly and Howrah
- Reported DVC discharge
- More than 1 lakh cusecs over two days