Kolkata, Oct. 27 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday said the Centre had agreed to provide Rs 500 crore for dredging an 80-km stretch of the Ganga from Malda to Nadia, subject to the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR).
After meeting Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil in Delhi, Adhikari said the state had earlier agreed to undertake the dredging but failed to do so, prompting him to seek central assistance. The Farakka Barrage authorities have dredged around 20 km near the barrage.
He said the meeting did not discuss the Ganga water-sharing agreement with Bangladesh, which falls under the Union Ministry of External Affairs. Signed in December 1996, the bilateral pact expires on December 12, 2026.
Adhikari also flagged incomplete implementation of a 2018 agreement involving the state government, the Inland Waterways Authority of India, NTPC and the Farakka Barrage authorities. He stressed the need for a specific plan to tackle erosion threatening homes, farmland and infrastructure along the river.
The CM announced a Rs 1,600-crore scheme, with Rs 1,000 crore from the Centre and Rs 600 crore from the state, to be implemented by the Water Resources Investigation & Development department.
At the Ganga Flood Control Board meeting, discussions centred on long-term measures to tackle erosion in Malda and Murshidabad. Adhikari said dredging a 16-km stretch was proposed using IIT Kanpur guidelines and would require an NOC from Jharkhand. Talks with Bihar on preventing river erosion were underway. Bihar has reportedly issued an NOC for dredging.
The Centre called for time-bound action on recommendations and effective implementation of schemes, with flood management, riverbank protection and inter-state coordination among the key issues.
During a recent inspection in Malda, Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal was alerted that the Ganga and Fulahar rivers had come within around 750 metre of each other at a vulnerable point, raising fears of flooding and disruption to road and rail links between north and south Bengal.
Adhikari also said the state would implement the Ghatal Master Plan using Rs 1,200 crore from Central and state flood-control funds. Of 407 complaints concerning the Jal Jeevan Mission, 139 had been taken up, and the Centre would provide fresh funds. He added that, as Namami Gange works had stalled, the state Urban Development department would provide space for 19 sewage treatment plants.
Adhikari said he met with Amit Shah. On the upcoming KMC polls, he said he is overseeing 10 Bhawanipore wards, including a Muslim-majority ward, which he believes the BJP can win, citing the Rejinagar Assembly result.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.