Bank erosion by strong river currents posing a challenge
PRAYAGRAJ : Like in the past, officials entrusted with the task of organising Magh Mela-2022 are worried as strong unabated currents of mainly the Ganga and also the Yamuna rivers are eroding the banks and thereby causing decrease in the land available for allotment to seers and different religious organisations during the annual religious fair set to start from January 14-15.
The mela authorities are facing a challenge similar to the one witnessed in 2004 when the ‘Sangam’ of the two rivers had shifted eastward forcing people to walk long distances to take the holy dip at the confluence. This time, the Ganga has shifted towards western direction (towards city).
To combat the continuous erosion, the mela administration is working day and night. “The current of the river is quite strong and our experts are working tirelessly to minimise the erosion. We are keeping a tight vigil on the currents and situation is under control”, said Mela Adhikari Shesh Mani Pandey.
Expert carpenters known as “Bind-Mallahas” are working overtime making wooden crates—a structure made using bamboo and narrow tree trunks—day and night and placing the same at strategically selected points where the river is eroding its banks.
“We place two crates one behind another and both are tied with strong ropes and these are then filled with gunny bags having sands of the bank”, said a senior official of the flood control department working on the erosion site. Because of the strong currents, the mela authorities are fighting day and night to control the erosion of land lying between Triveni and Mahavir Margs pontoon bridges. A JCB machine too has been pressed into service which is making points for fixing the crates to check erosion.
“Erosion of banks by currents of the rivers is nothing new for Sangam area but the difference this year is the fact that there is an increased level of water in the
BECAUSE OF THE STRONG CURRENTS, THE MELA AUTHORITIES ARE FIGHTING DAY AND NIGHT TO CONTROL THE EROSION OF LAND
Ganga as compared to earlier years. As the Ganga is not as deep as the Yamuna, the currents are strong. But at the same time, more water also means clean river, which is a welcome development”, said head of Tikarmafi Math, Mahant Hari Chaitanya Bhramchari, known for fighting for the cause of clean Ganga.