If Centre fails, Bengal govt will fund 'Ghatal Master Plan': CM Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: Accusing the Centre of depriving funds to West Bengal, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said if the central government does not provide funds, the state will implement the much needed 'Ghatal Master Plan' in the next 3-4 years on its own.

Banerjee announced that ₹1,250 cr will be needed for the Plan and it will help 17 lakh people. Ghatal is a low-lying riverine area in Paschim Medinipur district that gets inundated by floods almost every year.

The Trinamool chief, while speaking at the constituency of party leader and actor Dev, said, "my brother Dev requested it and I couldn't ignore it. The Ghatal Master Plan will be implemented in the next 3-4 years and more that 17 lakh people in Ghatal and five adjacent areas will benefit from it."


In 2022, the Centre reportedly approved ₹1,500 cr 'Ghatal Master Plan', a project to dredge riverbeds and strengthen embankments of 10 rivers, people in the know said. According to the plan, the Centre was scheduled to bear 60% of the costs. However, the project did not take off.