Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday changed her itinerary in the Sunderbans and travelled to another remote pocket by river in an attempt to gauge the problems faced by rural masses and find solutions before panchayat polls.

Mamata was scheduled to return to Calcutta from Taki in North 24-Parganas on Wednesday, but she chose to extend her stay in the Sunderbans. The chief minister took a 90-minute ride on a powerful motorised boat on the Ichhamati and reached the riverine village of Khanpur in Hasnabad block.

Like Kalitala, where Mamata had held an administrative programme on Tuesday, Khanpur is also a remote place in the Sunderbans.

Sources said Mamata had seen for herself some laxity in administrative work at Kalitala in Hingalganj block on Tuesday. “Besides, there were demands from people for basic facilities like roads and drinking water. Hence, Mamata did not miss a chance to visit one more remote area before panchayat polls,” said a source.

A senior government official said the chief minister wanted to get another firsthand experience of the situation in the Sunderbans and at Bangladesh-bordering villages. “Her plan was to leave Taki on Wednesday afternoon. But she suddenly changed her itinerary and wanted to visit another remote pocket. Accordingly, the administration chose Khanpur,” he added.

During her hour-long stay at Khanpur, she focused on winning the hearts of the people in an area where even drinking water is a challenge for residents. When Mamata was distributing woollens and saris among the women, a few of them sought a solution to the drinking water crisis.

“Didi, we have a problem with drinking water. If we have no money to buy a jar of water, we have to drink water from the ponds, which is barely potable. I wanted to meet you Didi, to request you to do something for us,” Jhuma Haldar told Mamata from far away. Mamata couldn’t hear the request as she was busy distributing clothes among 1,000-odd people.

However, Mamata did not take too much time to assess the basic problems of the area.

“I know you have a problem with drinking water. You will get piped water at your door by 2024. But I assure you that the problem would be resolved temporarily within seven days. I am assigning the additional district magistrate (development), Priti Goyal, to take charge of the Sunderbans. She will take care of the problems in these areas,” said the chief minister.

Mamata requested officials to try to alleviate the sufferings of the people in the area. “I request all my officials to ensure that people of these areas live with happiness.”

Although the chief minister took a ferry ride to reach Khanpur, she returned to Taki by road. “I heard that there was a portion of the road that was damaged and remained unrepaired. I want to do a field inquiry. So, I am returning by road,” she said.