Bengal to get its longest riverbank wall to battle Ghatal flood scourge
Times of India | 24 March 2025
123 Ghatal: Bengal is set to get its longest riverbank wall as a revetment. A 3.5-km long, 27-ft tall and 2.5-ft deep flood retention wall — the longest in Bengal's riverine belts — will come up on the banks of Shilabati to stop the flood scourge in Ghatal town.
According to govt project estimates, it will cost Rs 155 crore, including the purchase of an estimated 38 acres of from private owners. Other land parcels that are part of the project are govt-controlled and will be easier to acquire.
Work is expected to start in May. Given the land acquisition issues involved, no end date has been decided.
State irrigation and waterways minister Manas Bhunia said, "This riverbank wall will be Bengal's longest. This is part of the multiple sub-steps of the Ghatal Master Plan. As a first step, the district administration has initiated talks with all stakeholders. We are extremely enthused by the response of landowners, who have expressed their desire to part with their plots for the greater good to end the curse of flooding in these parts. The state is committed to ensuring that all landowners get the right compensation."
On March 17, Ghatal sub-divisional officer Suman Biswas, SDPO Animesh Singh Roy and officials from Ghatal municipality, state agriculture and irrigation departments met local farmers and traders in Serampore. They explained the work outline of the Ghatal Master Plan, for the purpose of which the state has disbursed its first allocation of Rs 500 crore. The overall project cost is thrice this; the remaining funds will be paid in two more yearly tranches.
SDO Biswas said many at the meeting expressed their willingness to provide land. "Accordingly, the process of acquiring land following govt regulations has begun," he said.
According to officials, the retaining wall will be built on the left side of the Ghatal Circuit embankment near Vidyasagar Bridge on the Shilabati. Officials said to augment this riverbank wall, two pump houses will be constructed in Ghatal town: one near Narayani Canal in Ward 3 and the other near Doodher Bandh Canal in Ward 9. Each pump house will have eight pumps and will be elevated to 21m to prevent floodwaters from entering. This will allow water to be drained from the town area using the pumps. This component of the project will cost another Rs 60 crore. The sluice gate at Ghatal municipality area will also be made bigger.