(a) whether the Government is considering to implement a programme to develop the river
Ichhamati in West Bengal including increasing its depth and water carrying capacity;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Union Government is aware that large number of people got affected every
year due to recurrent floods in this river; and
(d) if so, the details of the steps taken by the Government to remedy the situation?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES(SHRI JAI PRAKASH NARAYAN YADAV)
(a) & (b) The Government of West Bengal has already completed resuscitation of the river
for a length of 24.3 K.M. within Indian Territory in the district of North 24 Parganas at a
cost of Rs. 24.88 Crore (Approx.). For the balance portion of approximate 20 km. length, from
Angrail BSF Bridge to Kalanchi BSF Bridge, which forms common border between India and Bangladesh,
Government of West Bengal prepared a scheme amounting to Rs. 23.59 crore for desilting/dredging
of river Ichhamati for better drainage and flood management.
(c) Yes, Sir.
(d) As the river Ichhamati forms the international border between India and Bangladesh, the matter
has already been taken up by Government of India with Bangladesh during 36th meeting of Indo-
Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) held at Dhaka in September, 2005 to work out the
modalities for undertaking desilting/dredging work. A joint field visit by Ministers of Water
Resources of both the countries (India and Bangladesh) was also undertaken in September, 2006 to
assess situation on the ground.