Ghatal civic body chair to give up home for Master Plan
Times of India | 3 April 2025
12 Ghatal: Ghatal Municipality chairman Tuhin Kanti Bera announced on Wednesday that he would give up his double-storey house for the ambitious Ghatal Master Plan, designed to protect the area from flooding. The project requires 60 feet of land on both sides of the Shilabati River, affecting properties from Ward 3 to Ward 9. The plan includes the construction of a 4km retaining wall along the river's west bank and a circuit embankment covering 12 wards.
"Public representatives must lead by example," said Bera, who had built his house ‘Chitralay' in Krishnanagar over a decade ago after selling inherited land.
As a member of the Master Plan Implementation Monitoring Committee, he pledged to address rehabilitation concerns with higher authorities.
The project faces stiff resistance from shop owners, with over a hundred businesses potentially facing demolition. Shop owners, particularly those operating on govt land, demand proper rehabilitation arrangements before displacement.
Sub-divisional officer Suman Biswas said that while the measurement of properties was completed, the acquisition process had yet to begin. "All affected landowners will get fair compensation," he assured.