‘State already spent Rs 341 cr for desiltation of canals’

Kolkata: State Irrigation and Waterways minister Manas Bhunia on Wednesday said that state government following the instruction of the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has already spent Rs 341 crore for de-siltation of various canals in West and East Midnapore thereby increasing water holding capacity to check flood in the region.

The Mamata Banerjee government has decided to implement the Ghatal Master Plan after the Centre allegedly denied funds to the state. The minister pointed out that the state government has carried out de-siltation works of several canals covering 115 kms. Following Chief Minister’s instruction a monitoring committee has been set up for the smooth implementation of Ghatal Master Plan, Bhunia added.

“The BJP-led Centre has stopped providing any funds to the state in this regard from 2015. The state government was supposed to get funds from the Centre to check erosion of embankments. During rains, a huge volume of water flowing from various rivers in the north Indian regions and also north Bengal enter Bengal. It causes damage to the districts like Malda and Murshidabad and later flows down. Around 76 rivers are flowing in North Bengal. The Chief Minister had written letters to the Centre and also drew the attention of the Prime Minister but no steps were taken,” Bhunia said.