Two lakh people affected by Ghatal floods, thousands evacuated: West Bengal Minister
Ghatal and adjoining areas like Garbeta and Chandrakona in Paschim Medinipur district are flood prone. The floods were caused by heavy rainfall and the release of water from reservoirs, which led the Silabati and Dwarakeshwar rivers to break their banks.
This year too, severe damage has been caused to residential areas, roads, and agricultural land in parts of Paschim Medinipur, Howrah, Hooghly, and Bankura districts following heavy rainfall and the release of water by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) last week. The Minister said the flood crisis in Ghatal has been 'the worst since 1978,' and over 100 villages have been affected.
Two persons drowned, Mr. Bhunia confirmed, adding that the flood is receding now.
Centre delayed funds
He also reiterated his grievances against the Centre for allegedly not releasing funds for the 'Ghatal Master Plan' — a flood management initiative by the West Bengal government to improve conditions in the low-lying flood-prone areas of Paschim Medinipur and Purba Medinipur districts.
However, on Tuesday (June 24, 2025), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Trinamool of not implementing the project despite the sanction of funds by the Centre.
'GOI had already sanctioned ₹1,200 crore for the project back in 2022, which was later increased to ₹1,500 crore. As per the agreement, 60% of the funding was to come from the Centre and 40% from the state,' BJP leader Dilip Ghosh said.
CM accused of apathy
He accused the Mamata Banerjee government of 'negligence, apathy, and incapability' in executing the Ghatal Master Plan.
Notably, responding to a question by Ghatal's Trinamool MP Dev Adhikari in December 2023, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti said that while the Government of India accorded investment clearance for the project in 2022, 'No funds have been provided by the Central Government as the project has not been included for funding as part of any scheme of the Ministry of Jal Shakti.'
On Tuesday (June 24, 2025), BJP MLA Hiranmoy Chattopadhyaya wrote to the Prime Minister urgently requesting relief assistance for the flood-affected people of Ghatal.
'On 22nd June, I personally visited the affected areas in Ghatal and was devastated to witness that there were no rescue boats, no proper arrangements, nor any effective intervention on the ground from the concerned authorities… State government has failed to act adequately or responsibly,' he wrote in his letter.
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