Farakka Barrage (malda)

Farakka Barrage is a barrage across the Ganges River, located in the Indian state of West Bengal, roughly 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the border with Bangladesh near Chapai Nawabganj District. Construction was started in 1960 and completed in 1974. The barrage was built to divert the Ganges River water into the Hooghly River during the dry season, from January to June, in order to flush out the accumulating silt which in the 1950s and 1960s was a problem at the major port of Kolkata on the Hooghly River. One of the important thing to note here is that the river divides Murshidabad and Malda districts of West Bengal. 

Bangladesh and India have had many debates about how the Farakka Barrage cuts off Bangladesh's water supply. Also in Bangladesh, the diversion has raised salinity levels, contaminated fisheries, hindered navigation, and posed a threat to water quality and public health. Lower levels of soil moisture along with increased salinity have also led to desertification. 
This is the longest barrage in the world[citation and has recently been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. The barrage was constructed by the Hindustan Construction Company Limited. It has 123 gates and it serves water to the Farakka super thermal power station(NTPC Farakka).

  
 

ABOUT MALDA DISTRICT

Malda district (Bengali: মালদহ জেলা) is a district of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies 347 kilometres northnorth of Kolkata, the state capital. This district is notable for the production of mango and silk. The folk culture of gombhira is a feature of the district, being a unique way of representation of joy and sorrow of daily life of the common people, as well as the unique medium of presentation on national and international matters.

MALDA

District headquarters is English Bazar, also known as Malda, which was once the capital of Bengal. The district maintains the tradition of the past in culture and education. Old Maldah, the town which lies just east of the confluence of the Mahananda and Kalindi rivers, is part of the English Bazar urban agglomeration. The town rose to prominence as the river port of the old capital of Pandua. During the 18th century it was the seat of prosperous cotton and silk industries. It remains an important distributing centre for rice, jute, and wheat. Historical monuments include the mosque Jami' Masjid (1566) and the landmark Nimasari tower across the river. Constituted a municipality in 1867, it has several colleges affiliated with the University of North Bengal. Rice, jute, legumes, and oilseed are the chief crops in the surrounding area. Mulberry plantations and mango orchards occupy large areas; mango trade and silk manufacture are the main economic activities...

Malda district (Bengali: মালদহ জেলা) is a district of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies 347 kilometres northnorth of Kolkata, the state capital. This district is notable for the production of mango and silk. The folk culture of gombhira is a feature of the district, being a unique way of representation of joy and sorrow of daily life of the common people, as well as the unique medium of presentation on national and international matters...