Archive · 30 Sep 2026
Suvendu Announces Rs 1,200 Crore Ghatal Flood Plan
West Bengal says it will spend Rs 1,200 crore on a flood-control project in Ghatal.
The project is called the Ghatal Master Plan.
The Centre is expected to pay half the money, while the state pays the rest.
Officials have been told to start quickly after Durga Puja.
The government wants major work finished by June, before the rainy season.
The plan will improve drains and move extra water through canals and rivers into the Rupnarayan River.
It covers several blocks and municipalities in the Medinipur districts.
The chief minister also criticised the earlier Trinamool Congress government over education and child marriage.
He said about 60,000 under-18 girls had recorded institutional deliveries between January and June, but the articles present this figure as his claim.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced Rs 1,200 crore for the Ghatal Master Plan during the current financial year.
The Centre is expected to fund 50 per cent of the allocation, with the state covering the remainder and receiving Disaster Management Department funds for land acquisition.
Officials and local MLAs were told to begin work on a war footing after Durga Puja and complete it by June before the monsoon; one report specifies June 2027.
The plan aims to reduce recurring floods and river erosion by improving drainage and directing excess water through canals and rivers into the Rupnarayan River.
Adhikari criticised the previous Trinamool Congress government over education rankings, child marriage and adolescent pregnancies, citing about 60,000 recorded institutional deliveries involving girls below 18.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, state officials and local MLAs.
- What
- An announced Rs 1,200 crore allocation for the Ghatal Master Plan, along with criticism of the previous Trinamool Congress government and development promises for Birsingha.
- When
- September 30; work is expected to begin after Durga Puja and be completed by June before the monsoon. One report identifies the year as 2026 and gives the completion target as June 2027.
- Where
- Birsingha and Ghatal in Paschim Medinipur district, with the flood-control plan covering parts of Purba and Paschim Medinipur districts.
- Why
- To mitigate recurring floods and river erosion by improving drainage and channelising excess water into the Rupnarayan River.
Adhikari and Government Claims
Previous Trinamool Congress Government
Education performance
Adhikari and Government Claims
Adhikari blamed the previous Trinamool Congress government’s policies for West Bengal ranking 31st in education and falling outside the top 10.
Previous Trinamool Congress Government
The articles provide no response from the previous Trinamool Congress government and do not independently verify the ranking claim.
Child marriage and adolescent pregnancy
Adhikari and Government Claims
Adhikari said West Bengal had a serious child-marriage problem and cited about 60,000 institutional deliveries involving girls below 18 between January and June, including figures for Murshidabad and South 24 Parganas.
Previous Trinamool Congress Government
The articles do not include a response from the Trinamool Congress or independent verification of the figures attributed to Adhikari.
Library purchases
Adhikari and Government Claims
Adhikari instructed libraries to buy books by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar instead of books by Mamata Banerjee, including the poem collection “Epang Opang Jhapang.”
Previous Trinamool Congress Government
The reports say the BJP government had decided to remove Banerjee’s books from state-run and government school libraries, but provide no Trinamool Congress response.
- Announced allocation
- Rs 1,200 crore for the current financial year
- Funding split
- The Centre is expected to provide 50 per cent, with the state government bearing the remainder
- Estimated project cost
- Around Rs 1,500 crore
- Project coverage
- 11 blocks and five municipalities across Purba and Paschim Medinipur districts
- Area covered
- Around 1,659 square kilometres
- Flood-control method
- Drainage improvements and channelisation through canals and rivers into the Rupnarayan River
- Reported adolescent deliveries
- About 60,000 institutional deliveries involving girls below 18 from January 1 to June 30, according to Adhikari
- Birsingha development
- Plans include roads, accommodation, library and museum improvements, and Rs 1.20 crore for solar street lights
