July 19, 2018
Manas Bhuniya makes Zero Hour mention on the Kaliaghai-Kapaleshwari-Baghai Basin Drainage Scheme
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Thank you, Chairman Sir, for allowing me to speak during the Zero Hour. This is a very important issue for our state, Bengal, particularly for the southern part of the State. The Government of India had accorded techno-economic clearance to the Kaliaghai-Kapaleshwari-Baghai Basin Drainage Scheme on January 28, 2010, which was to be built at a cost of Rs 650 crore. Then the Planning Commission accorded sanction to the project on March 9, 2010. Till date, it was the accepted rule for such a project for the Central Government to provide 75 per cent of the sanctioned project and the State Government to provide 25 per cent. Of the Rs 650 crore, till date, only Rs 325 crore has been provided, which is surprising. The amount though has been utilised fully.
Therefore, I am drawing the attention of the Hon’ble Finance Minister and the Hon’ble Water Resources Minister, through you, to the fact that this flood control and flood management project is not getting the financial support of the Union Government. How is it possible that a project which was sanctioned in the 11th Plan Period, and continued as a spillover project, is not getting the financial support of the Central Government for the last two-and-a-half years? The reasons are unknown. As a result, the project is half complete and the people are suffering, and the objective of the flood management programme is being frustrated.
So I want to know, through you, Sir – and I demand a statement from the Water Resources Minister and the Finance Minister – what are the reasons for depriving Bengal by not providing the fund for the Kaliaghai-Kapaleshwari-Baghai Basin Drainage Scheme, which should be given to the tune of 75 per cent of the total fund? I request you to give direction to the Hon’ble Finance Minister and Water Resources Minister on this issue.
