TMC MP raises issue of ‘Ghatal Master Plan’

Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Dipak Adhikari Dev raised the issue of ‘Ghatal Master Plan’ during the Zero Hour in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. In 1959, the Man Singh Committee first named a plan called the Ghatal Master Plan for flood control in un-divided Midnapore district. However, it took 20 years for the Planning Commission to approve the plan, and finally in 1980 the plan was sanctioned; in 1982, the foundation stone was laid.

“There are two districts in my State of West Bengal – West and East Midnapore. 20 lakh people residing in 22 blocks of these districts are suffering due to the problem of floods for the last 64 years," Dev mentioned.

"I have grown up but the foundation has not turned into Ghatal Master Plan yet," he asserted.

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also submitted a Rs 2,000 crore proposal to the Centre for implementing the Ghatal master plan for flood control.

Urging help from the Center the TMC MP from Ghatal, West (Paschim) Midnapore said, "The plan is such a big proposal that it is not possible for the State Government alone to bear the costs. For the last five years the Chief Minister has been trying hard so that the Ghatal Master Plan becomes a reality soon."

"This year the amount of rainfall was very high and the people did not know what to do if the district is flooded. I had no answer, Madam. We are searching for an answer for the last 64 years but we have no idea when this Ghatal Master Plan will materialise,” Adhikari also added.

The TMC MP has also sent a letter to the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development on Tuesday.

As many as 2.14 lakh people were sheltered in 1,537 relief camps in the 12 districts due to flood in the state during this Monsoon. According to the disaster management department's report, 47 municipalities across the state have been affected by floods.