**Summary:**
This document summarizes the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 722 regarding the Ghatal Master Plan, answered on July 24, 2025, by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary. The question concerned communication between the Union Government and the State Government of West Bengal regarding potential external financial assistance from institutions like the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank for the Ghatal Master Plan, as well as reasons for the project's exclusion from the Union Government's budget.
The response indicates that Phase-I works of the Ghatal Master Plan, covering Paschim Medinipur and Purba Medinipur districts in West Bengal, were deemed techno-economically viable by the Advisory Committee of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) on June 6, 2018, at an estimated cost of Rs. 1238.95 crore (price level 2017). Investment clearance was subsequently accorded based on the recommendations of the Investment Clearance Committee of DoWR, RD & GR on June 10, 2022.
While the Union Government provides technical guidance and financial assistance for flood management, the primary responsibility for formulating and implementing flood management and anti-erosion schemes rests with the State Governments. The Ghatal Master Plan was not included under the Flood Management Programme (FMP) component of the Flood Management and Border Area Programme (FMBAP) for the period 2021-26 due to the program's limited outlay of Rs 300 crore for new critical flood management projects and non-fulfillment of the inclusion criteria. Specifically, the criteria required states to have implemented Flood Plain Zoning (FPZ) either through legislation or an appropriate Executive Order, which West Bengal had not done. The Government of West Bengal has been advised to explore possibilities of securing external financial assistance for the project.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Union Government ministry responsible for water resources, river development, and Ganga rejuvenation.
Ghatal Master Plan: A flood management project in West Bengal.
Asian Development Bank (ADB): A potential source of external assistance for financing the Ghatal Master Plan.
World Bank: A potential source of external assistance for financing the Ghatal Master Plan.
Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal: One of the districts in West Bengal where the Ghatal Master Plan is being implemented.
Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal: One of the districts in West Bengal where the Ghatal Master Plan is being implemented.
Flood Management Programme (FMP): A component of the Flood Management and Border Area Programme (FMBAP) under which the Ghatal Master Plan was considered for inclusion.
Flood Plain Zoning (FPZ): A criterion for inclusion of projects under the Flood Management Programme (FMP), requiring states to implement FPZ either through legislation or an executive order.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 722
ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025
GHATAL MASTER PLAN
722. SHRI ADHIKARI DEEPAK DEV
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Union Government has communicated with the State Government of West Bengal
regarding external assistance from Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank and other agencies to
finance Ghatal Master Plan;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the reasons for not making the provision/approval from the Budget for the said project?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) to (c) A flood management project of West Bengal namely, Phase-I works of Ghatal Master Plan in
Paschim Medinipur and Purba Medinipur districts of West Bengal was considered by Advisory Committee
of Department of Water Resource, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation under Ministry of Jal Shakti
in its 136th meeting held on 6th June, 2018 and accepted for its techno-economic viability at an estimated
cost of Rs. ₹1238.95 crore (price level 2017). Subsequently, based on recommendations of Investment
Clearance Committee of DoWR, RD & GR in its 17th meeting held on 10.06.2022, the project has been
accorded investment clearance.
Flood management and anti-erosion schemes are formulated and implemented by concerned State
Governments as per their priority. The Union Government supplements the efforts of the States by
providing technical guidance and also promotional financial assistance for management of floods in critical
areas. Ghatal Master Plan has not been included under Flood Management Programme (FMP) component
of Flood Management and Border Area Programme (FMBAP) during 2021-26 due its limited outlay of Rs
300 crore for the inclusion of new critical flood management projects and also not fulfilling the criteria for
inclusion, namely, 'Projects from only those States may be included who have implemented Flood Plain
Zoning (FPZ) either through a legislation or through an appropriate Executive Order'. Government of West
Bengal has been advised that, if they want, they may explore possibilities of availing of external assistance.
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