‘Released Rs 1,290 crore to Bengal’: Centre rejects Mamata’s charge of ‘no funds for managing floods’

The ministry quoted the Bengal CM as saying, “I had written to the Prime Minister urging the formation of an Indo-Bhutan River Commission, warning that without it, North Bengal would continue to bear the consequences. Yet, I have not received any response. The Centre provides no funds for flood management and has even halted the Ganga Action Plan for cleaning the river. This is the level of discrimination being meted out to Bengal.”

Responding to her jab, the ministry said the Government of India is “already engaged” with the Government of Bhutan regarding problems related to river erosion, deposition of silt and debris on the river bed as well as the problem of flash floods in West Bengal on trans-border rivers between India and Bhutan.

“India-Bhutan Joint Groups/Teams between the two countries, namely Joint Group of Experts (JGE), Joint Technical Team (JTT) and Joint Experts Team (JET) are functional wherein officials of State Govt of Bengal are members. Recently the 11th JGE meeting held at Paro (Bhutan) took up eight additional rivers entering West Bengal from Bhutan, namely, viz. HashimaraJhora, Jogikhola, Rokia, Dhawal Jhora, Gabur Basra, GaburJyoti, Pana and Raidak (l&ll) to carry out joint study related to erosion and sedimentation problems on these rivers,” the ministry said.

“Govt of West Bengal has been asked to carry out the detailed study on the aforesaid to be presented during next JTT meeting, scheduled during this year. In addition, strengthening of the hydrological observation network in Bhutan for improvement in flood forecasting on trans-border rivers on the Indian side is also being worked out,” it said.

The ministry also refuted charges leveled by Banerjee regarding Centre not providing funds for flood management.

“Regarding flood management projects, no funding proposal related to these projects is pending with the Central Government. Centre has released Rs 1,290 crore to Govt. of West Bengal under Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP) so far,” the ministry said.

“Under Ganga Action Plan and Namame Gange Project, a total of 62 projects and interventions worth ?5,648.52 crore have been undertaken in the state of West Bengal. The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has sanctioned a total of 31 sewerage infrastructure projects, 30 ghats and crematoria projects in the state. Besides, a large single project for river rejuvenation in West Bengal, the rejuvenation of Tolly Nullah in Kolkata has been sanctioned,” it added.