The Narendra Modi government’s “refusal” to grant a promised sum to implement the Ghatal master plan — a full-fledged anti-flood plan drawn up by the state government — is a main reason for flooding in vast swathes of East and West Midnapores and parts of Hooghly, two Bengal ministers have alleged.

The floods affect around 5 lakh people annually.

“We would not have had to witness such a devastating situation in so many low-lying areas of the state if the Centre had kept its word by providing funds to implement the Ghatal master plan. The Modi government did not send a single penny till date, despite giving financial and administrative nods. It was the result of sheer negligence towards Bengal and our chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s requests, despite at least seven letters from her end,” said Manas Ranjan Bhuniya, Trinamul’s Sabang MLA and the current water resources investigation and development minister.

Bhuniya had chalked out the plan as the irrigation and waterways minister in the first Mamata government.

“Despite the state government agreeing to start the work at 50:50 ratio, the Modi government did not send even a paisa for the Ghatal master plan. Our chief minister has already given Rs 600 crore (50 per cent of the original project cost of Rs 1,200 crore), with which we dredged three major rivers, but we did not get the money promised by Delhi to finish the remaining work,” added Soumen Mahapatra, Bengal’s current irrigation and waterways minister.

Bhuniya on Thursday visited flood-hit Ghatal and nearby areas, accompanied by minister Humayun Kabir, MLA Srikanta Mahato and others, on Mamata’s directive. Vast areas under the Ghatal master plan remain waterlogged since Saturday because of heavy rain, accelerated by the release of water from many barrages including those of the DVC.

The Ghatal master plan is a cluster of projects that include the dredging and widening of riverbeds, strengthening of embankments, widening of confluences of at least 10 large rivers such as the Kansabati, and at least 40 channels and sub-channels passing through East and West Midnapore.

In 2012, the state government sent Delhi a detailed project report of the plan estimated at around Rs 1,200 crore, which received administrative and financial approval by the Modi government in 2015. The Centre had approved to pitch in with 75 per cent of the project cost, but later reduced its share to 50 per cent. No money was sent. The state government dredged a large part of Durbachati, Khiraibaksi and New Koshi rivers with its own funds.

Sources in the state irrigation and waterways department said the Ghatal master plan was approved by IIT-Kharagpur, and all its proposed work needed to be finished on a war-footing to save flood-prone areas in East and West Midnapore.

“Without desiltation, rivers and channels are unable to carry water load. This year, rainfall was immense again, which accelerated the flood-like situation in pockets of Ghatal and adjoining areas. The prime work of the project is a thorough dredging of rivers and channels to let the water pass. But after around 10 years, cost-escalation and other factors have resulted in exceeding the budget, and now we can’t finish the plan without Rs 2,000 crore more,” said a senior state government official.

Sources said had the Ghatal master plan been implemented properly, a large part of Khanakul in Hooghly could also be saved from floods.

Sources said the Centre had refused to fund two other flood-protection measures, the Keleghai-Kapaleshwari project in West Midnapore, and the Kandi master plan in Murshidabad. “In those cases, the central government backed out without providing its due share, but our chief minister sanctioned money to finish the plans,” said Bhuniya.

Officials said the state government had launched another master plan for Hooghly to desilt the lower Damodar basin. The state government dredged a large stretch that saved a part of Pursurah and Jangipara of Hooghly from floods. “It is a large project and we will continue it after the monsoon,” said Deepap Priya P., the Hooghly district magistrate.