Govt’s Namami Gange plan hits Didi roadblock
Not just river rejuvenation project, the West Bengal government has put a spanner in initiatives by other ministries as well
Namami Gange — the Narendra Modi government’s ambitious programme to clean and rejuvenate Ganga — is the latest central scheme to hit the roadblock in Mamata Banejeeled West Bengal government.
Union water resources minister Uma Bharti has said her patience is wearing thin with the state government’s refusal to attend meetings on riverfront projects in the state under the Centre’s flagship programme.
“They (state government) have a very strange attitude. They don’t come for any meetings. I am writing to the West Bengal CM to at least send somebody for meetings. Three projects in the state — riverfront development of Gangasagar, Belur and Dakshineswar — are very important to me,” she said.
Work has not started in any of these projects because of noncooperation by the state.
The Trinamool government has put a spanner in other min- istry initiatives too. The state government has not agreed to come onboard for the Centre’s ambitious project to link Manas-sankosh-teesta-ganga rivers to provide benefits of irrigation, drinking water and flood control to Assam, West Bengal and Bihar.
Despite several letters by Bharti to the CM soliciting her support, the latter has opposed the project, saying it will affect the state’s interest.
Banerjee’s opposition was also the reason behind the Centre failing to ink the Teesta water-sharing pact with Bangladesh during PM Sheikh Hasina’s visit in April.
Besides the ministry’s scheme, the Trinamool government has also pulled out of some crucial urban infrastructure projects, such as the smart cities mission.
Banerjee has openly criticised the project and said it will promote “inequitable development”.