A.1 Introduction:-
Around 657 square kilometre (SQKM) areas in Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur, spreading across 8 blocks and 2 municipalities including Ghatal Sub-Division in Paschim Medinipur adjacent to rivers Kangsabati, Silabati, Rupnarayan are prone to perpetual flood and drainage congestion. The critically affected blocks are Ghatal, Daspur-I, Daspur-II, Debra and Ghatal Municipality of Paschim Medinipur and Panskura-I, Kolaghat, Moyna, Tamluk and Panskura Municipality in Purba Medinipur. Irrigation & Waterways Department, in Govt. of West Bengal, derived a comprehensive Flood Management Scheme , through detailed survey, investigation, mathematical model analysis and submitted the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to Ganga flood Control Commission (GFCC) under MoJS, RD & GR, GoI in December’2014 for appraisal and with the ultimate objective of obtaining Central Assistance. After a prolonged process of appraisal at different tiers during 2015-2022, the investment clearance was accorded by the Minister of Jal Shakti, RD & GR, GoI in June’2022, for Rs. 1238.95 Crore but the project has not yet been considered for Central Assistance. It may be mentioned here that no Central Assistance has yet been granted against this project.
The scope of the work broadly includes the following components:-
a. River excavation & raising-strengthening of the existing embankments (147 KM).
b. Construction of regulators major sluices (2 no.).
c. Construction of pump houses to drain out storm water from low lying areas of Ghatal Municipalities (2 no.).
d. Restoration of Ghatal Circuit Embankment for 21.53 KM.
e. Widening of 4 existing bridges on Ghatal-Panskura Road and construction of new bridges at selected locations.
f. Improvement of embankment of Kangsabati river near Kapastirki at selected stretches for total 84 KM.
g. Construction of dwarf wall for 147 KM along existing embankments.
h. Purchase of private land for taking up construction of ring bundh all around the Ghatal Municipalities areas on the left bank of river Silabati.
A.2 Action taken by the State Government to commence the work at field
However, considering the uncertainty in receiving Central Assistance in time, the State Government, as a part of its commitment to the thousands of flood victims in Ghatal and surrounding areas, has already completed the re-excavation of 8 river stretches in the project area for a total length of 115.80 KM during 2018-2021 out of its own budget. The total expenditure involved for such 115.8 K.M. of completed river excavation works is Rs. 341.49 Crore. With the implementation of these schemes, the people of perpetually flood prone areas of Ghatal, Daspur-I & II, Panskura & Moyna & Tamluk have been substantially benefited. The details of carried out river dredging works are furnished below in tabular form.
| S1. No. | Work | Remarks | District | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Re-sectioning of Rajaspat Khal and its embankment for a length of 19.00 Km. | Executed in 2018-19 | Paschim Medinipur | Rs.190.90 Cr. |
| 2 | Re-sectioning of Durbachati Khal and its embankment for a length of 27.00 Km. | Executed in 2021-22 | -do- | |
| 3 | Re-sectioning of Chandreswar Khal for a length of 14.00 Km | Executed in 2021-22 | -do- | |
| 4 | Re-sectioning of Gomrai Khal for a length of 4.00 Km | -do- | -do- | |
| 5 | Re-sectioning of Pajrasi Khal for a length of 8.00 Km | -do- | -do- | |
| 6 | Re-sectioning of New Cossye River for a length of 21.30 Km. | Executed in 2021-22 | Purba Medinipur | Rs.150.59 Cr. |
| 7 | Re-sectioning of river Khiraiboxi for a length of 22.485 Km | Executed in 2021-22 | -do- |
A.3.1 It may be mentioned that despite repeated persuasion, the project has not been considered for Central Assistance under the Central Scheme e.g. FMBAP (Flood Management & Border Areas programme), a program designed to provide fund support to the State Govt. in the ratio of 60:40 funding by the Central & the State under Ministry of Jal Shakti, RD & GR, GoI.
A.3.2 Considering the uncertainly of Central Assistance and the urgency of immediate implementation of the project, the State Govt. has taken the decision of implementation of balance components of the project out of its own budget.
A.3.3. Some additional components are further been identified for proper flood management like extension of Chandreswar khal with construction of new bridges, regulators, excavation of some water bodies near Narajole circuit and re-construction of 5 dilapidated sluices. Finance required for further identified works is Rs. 479.54 Crore. Since work worth Rs. 341.49 Crore has already been carried out in 2018-21, the balance cost stands at Rs. 1500 Crore = (Rs. 1238.95 Crore + Rs. 602.54 – Rs. 341.49 Crore).
A.3.4 The balance works amounting to Rs.1500 Crore has been planned to be executed over a period of 2 (two) years starting from 2024-25. This broad planning with defined target line has been finalized in the meeting of taken by the Chief Secretary, West Bengal on 28.09.2024. Since timely and effective implementation requires close co-ordination of different departments, local bodies and arrangement of land for some components are crucial, a District Level Implementation and Monitoring Committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of the HMIC, I&WD on 23.12.2024 (copy enclosed as Annexure-I).
A.4.1 Out of 12 components stated at A.3.4, the detailed planning for 6 components have been done. For the other 6 components the detailed planning is under preparation with a target to complete execution by March’2027.
It is worth mentioning that the State Government in I & W Department, with a view to protect the lives and properties from the hand of serious devastation of flood of vast Ghatal area, has already framed a comprehensive Project with river basin approach instead of taking up required work on piecemeal basis. In absence of any Central Assistance despite investing huge time from 2015 to 2024, manpower and existence of scheme namely FMBAP for rendering fund support to such nature of projects, the I & W department has already carried out some components of river dredging out of its own budget. During the flood in September’2024, I&W department, in close co-ordination with district administrations, local bodies and other departments, has carried out required emergent restoration works, which is turn has minimized the chance of further aggravation of drainage congestion and bank erosion. The Project is expected to be completed by March’2028. We hope that after completion of total project work, the people of that area will be relieved from the hands of flood and water logging.