Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday pledged that the state government would “gift” the Ghatal masterplan” to the people of West Midnapore if the Trinamul Congress won both in Ghatal and Midnapore in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.

During an administrative meeting in Hooghly’s Arambagh on February 12, Mamata had announced that her government would implement the much-awaited mega flood management plan for the Ghatal subdivision. She said the state’s resources would be used to implement the plan since the BJP-led central government had shown little interest in the project.

Speaking at the rally in Pingla’s Mundumari village ground on Friday, Mamata said: “Contai masterplan has already been done…. Now this time if both Dev (Deepak Adhikari) and June (June Malia) win from Ghatal and Midnapore, the Ghatal masterplan will come as a gift from me.”

Mamata’s announcement drew huge applause from the crowd and party leaders, including Manas Bhuniya and Dev who were seated on the stage.

Every year, the Ghatal subdivision suffers during the monsoon because of the inundation caused by rivers Shilawati, Dwarekeshwari, Jhumi, and Kansabati.

Dev, the actor-turned-MP, has been pushing for the implementation of the project for the last 10 years. He was reportedly angry with the leadership for the party’s lack of commitment on the issue and was initially not willing to fight the polls. However, during a meeting with the Ghatal MP in February, Mamata announced her resolve to implement the masterplan and this led Dev to have a change of heart.