§  Major Announcement on Flood Control Project

§  Dev’s Door-to-Door Mission to Convince Landowners

§  How Dev Plans to Solve Ghatal’s Decades-Old Flood Problem

§  Dev Takes Personal Charge, Promises House-to-House Visits for Landowners

§  Dev MP’s Bold Move - Door-to-Door Campaign to Fast-Track Rs 1500 Crore Ghatal Master Plan

Ghatal Master Plan: In a significant development that could accelerate the long-awaited Ghatal Master Plan, Trinamool Congress MP and actor Deepak Adhikari, popularly known as Dev, announced on Saturday that he will personally visit landowners door-to-door to convince those still hesitant about giving up their land for the mega infrastructure project. This unprecedented personal initiative by the parliamentarian marks a crucial turning point in the ambitious flood management scheme that has been in the works for decades.

Project Gains Momentum After Flood Setbacks

Speaking at a monitoring committee meeting at Ghatal Town Hall, Dev acknowledged that work on the Ghatal Master Plan has been significantly delayed due to six major floods this year alone. However, he expressed optimism that construction activities will now proceed at full speed. “Work has started with full force now. The people of Ghatal know how necessary the Ghatal Master Plan is. I thank those who have already given their land,” the MP stated.

The Rs 1,500 crore project, entirely funded by the West Bengal government after the Centre declined financial assistance includes construction of guard walls along the Shilavati River, dredging operations spanning 78 km and 52 km of river stretches, building new bridges, excavating canals and creating artificial waterways. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has allocated Rs 500 crore in the 2025-26 budget as the first installment of this comprehensive flood control initiative.

Personal Touch to Resolve Land Acquisition Challenges

The most significant announcement from Saturday’s meeting was Dev’s decision to take personal responsibility for convincing reluctant landowners. “There are still people who are afraid to give land or perhaps we have not been able to explain properly to them. If necessary, I will go to them myself. If they feel reassured when I go and I can convince them, then the work can be completed quickly,” Dev declared from the stage.

This hands-on approach addresses one of the biggest bottlenecks facing the project. Land acquisition complications had previously stalled the construction of guard walls on the Shilavati River. Following Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s directives, the route has been modified and land mapping completed but some property owners remain hesitant.

The challenge is substantial - the project requires 60 feet of land on both sides of the Shilavati River, affecting properties from Ward 3 to Ward 9 with over a hundred shops potentially facing demolition. The municipal chairman of Ghatal, Tuhin Kanti Bera has already pledged to give up his own double-story house for the project, setting an example for other residents.

Infrastructure Work Progresses Despite Obstacles

Dev provided detailed updates on the project's current status, revealing that dredging operations have commenced, sites for guard wall construction have been marked and land acquisition for multiple locations has been completed. Soil testing for several new bridges has finished and work is progressing rapidly.

The comprehensive plan includes establishment of two pump houses in Ghatal municipal areas at an estimated cost of Rs 31 crore, construction of a 3.5 km guard wall along the left bank of the Shilavati River costing Rs 65 crore, excavation along 86 km of the Shilavati River and dredging of the Kasai River for 48.70 km. The state government has also approved the construction of five sluice gates with Rs 10 crore allocated for this purpose with the tendering process already completed.

Timeline and Political Response

·       The MP expressed confidence that the project will be completed within the timeframe promised by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stating, “We are optimistic that the work will be completed according to the time given by Didi (Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee)”. The project timeline extends 4-5 years, given its massive scope involving river dredging, embankment construction, bridge building, canal excavation and land acquisition.

·       Addressing criticism from opposition parties, Dev offered a measured response: “The opposition is saying what they are saying - they may be right from their place, because if they don’t oppose, they won’t remain opposition. Ghatal Master Plan is not the agenda of any political party, it is for the people of Ghatal”. He extended an olive branch, promising to personally call all opposition members to celebrate once the work is completed, emphasizing that “they are all people of Ghatal”.

Historical Context and Community Impact

The Ghatal Master Plan was first envisaged in 1959 when the Man Singh Committee identified the need for comprehensive flood management in the region. Despite the foundation stone being laid in 1982 - coincidentally the same year Dev was born - the project remained unrealized for decades due to funding disputes between the central and state governments.

The region, located at the base of the Chota Nagpur Plateau, suffers annual flooding from the Shilavati, Damodar, Rupnarayan and Dwarakeshwar rivers. The overflowing waters inundate villages, destroy crops and displace thousands of residents every monsoon season. The project is expected to benefit approximately 10 lakh people spread across 657 sq km covering eight blocks including Chandrakona I & II, Daspur I & II, Ghatal, Debra, Panskura, Moyna and Kolaghat.

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Additional Community Programs

Beyond the Master Plan discussions, Dev also participated in forming committees for the Ghatal Festival and Children’s Fair at Ghatal Aurobindo Stadium on Saturday. Unlike last year’s meeting which saw unpleasant incidents, this year’s gathering proceeded smoothly. The MP also attended party Bijoya Sammilani and inaugurated a Kali Puja ceremony during his daylong visit.

Road Ahead

Dev’s announcement of personal intervention represents a pragmatic approach to overcoming administrative hurdles. The MP emphasized that completing the Ghatal Master Plan requires cooperation from the people of Ghatal themselves: “Without the people of Ghatal, it is not possible to complete this Master Plan work quickly,” he stated.

The monitoring committee, which includes state Irrigation Minister Manas Bhunia, MLAs, district officials and local representatives will oversee the project's implementation to ensure it stays on track. With dredging underway, guard wall locations marked, land acquisition progressing and bridge construction preparations completed, the project appears to be entering an accelerated phase.

As Ghatal faces yet another potential flood situation with rising water levels in the Shilavati, Rupnarayan and Old Kansai rivers, the urgency of completing this decades-old promise has never been greater. Dev’s commitment to personally engage with hesitant landowners could prove to be the catalyst that finally transforms this master plan from paper to reality, bringing long-awaited relief to a region that has endured recurring floods for generations.

The coming months will test whether this personalized approach to land acquisition can succeed where decades of bureaucratic processes have struggled, potentially setting a new precedent for community engagement in large-scale infrastructure projects across West Bengal.

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