December 9, 2019
Manas Bhunia demands funds from Centre for flood management in West Midnapore
FULL TRANSCRIPT
I want to bring to the notice of the Jal Shakti Minister that a big project of the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Project and flood management project in West Bengal in underway in the district of Paschim Midnapore and Purba Midnapore covering eleven blocks, and there about 25 lakh people, to give benefit to get rid of from the devastating recurring flood each year.
The Central Government during that period of 2010, on February 28, sanctioned Rs 650 crore with the mission of distribution of share State Government 25 per cent, Central Government 75 per cent. But later on, in the 12th Plan it was reverted to 50-50 percentage of shares between the State Government and the Central Government.
Sir, till date, as on the date today, Rs 373 crore have been spent, and share of the State Government of West Bengal headed by Madam Mamata Banerjee spent Rs 197 crore. The Central Government released only Rs 176 crore. And Rs 373 crore have been spent out of 650 crore.
So, my humble submission through you to the Central Government, crores of rupees, crops, houses, vegetables, animal resources were destroyed every year by the devastating flood in blocks and the districts. The people got relief for the last nine years, there was no flood. But this year Sir, I watched personally – my own constituency was Sabang in the district of Paschim Midnapore – due to heavy rain, the water level rose and it was totally inundated. Eight Blocks were inundated, the vegetables, fisheries, the farms were totally devastated by the floods. Immediate dredging, immediate desiltation of the river beds of Keleghai, Kapaleshwari, Baghai and Chanda river is necessary.
So my earnest appeal, through you Sir, to the hon’ble minister and the Central Government, kindly talk to the State Government, release the funds by which dredging and desiltation process can be done and people can be relieved from the recurring devastating flood again.
