IANS
New Delhi, Aug 17: The Ganga is changing its course near Allahabad, prompting authorities to take up measures to prevent the river from engulfing nearby roads and railway tracks.
"The Ganga has been shifting towards the Phaphamau side during the last three to four years. It has formed a meandering loop and it was observed that about 1.5 to 2 km upstream of the bridge there, some erosion has taken place," said Minister of State for Environment and Forests Namo Narayana Meena.
Meena informed the Rajya Sabha that a technical team comprising officers from the government of Uttar Pradesh, Ganga Flood Control Commission (Patna), ministry of railways and the Central Water Commission visited Allahabad in May to study the matter.
The team observed that the river flow is still 600 to 700 metres away from the existing road and the road itself protects Phaphamau, a locality near Allahabad.
"Some protection works have also been carried out by the government of Uttar Pradesh earlier," the minister added.
The team has recommended the need for close monitoring of the flow pattern of the river during the current monsoon season and conducting a model study on the behaviour of the river in the vicinity of the bridges.
It is also carrying out morphological studies with remote sensing techniques in the 20 km reach of the river there.
The ministry of water resources has already suggested to the Uttar Pradesh government to undertake the required studies and remedial measures, Meena said.