Malda, July 11: Union water resources minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi said here today that his department would formulate a national policy to fight erosion and floods in Malda, Murshidabad and North Dinajpur districts.

Preliminary work on this project has begun. The erosion of the Ganga has assumed alarming proportions and it needs to be recognised as a national issue, the minister said.

“It is not important whether the work will be done by the irrigation department or the zilla parishad. I had a talk with chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on this issue. A reputed agency should be authorised to work it out,” the minister said.

Das Munshi ruled out tackling erosion or floods by dredging the river.

“In that case, thousands of crores of rupees would be required. Where do we get so much money? We have to find alternative technology to solve the problem. We have sought help from experts on rivers,” the minister said.

Das Munshi will visit Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar on July 16 to review the flood situation.

Sources said he will meet officials of the district administration and North Bengal Flood Control Commission.