WB looking to Centre for funds for flood control programme

, Jun 19: The

government was looking forward to the new dispensation at the

for greater fund participation in a major flood control programme costing over Rs 1,500 crore.

Irrigation minister Rajib Banerjee today told the Assembly that he would visit Delhi soon with the hope of getting 75 per cent participation in funding from the Centre for the Ghatal Masterplan flood control and drainage programme for flood control in East and West Midnapore districts.

The earlier central government had agreed to 50 per cent fund participation for the project that was estimated to cost over Rs 1500 crore, he said. The minister said that the project was initially estimated at over Rs 1900 crore, but was curtailed to around Rs 1500 crore.

The state was not being able to start the ambitious project to control annual flooding in East and West Midnapore districts, he said, as it was waiting for the financial clearance from the Centre.

PTI