Posted on March 31, 2025
Under the model, Bhuiyan said: “The Irrigation Department will identify the reach of channel/khal/river to be dredged, evaluate the quantity of dredging and the nature of riverbed materials like sand clay, silt etc.”
State Irrigation Minister Manas Bhuiyan on Wednesday said a unique model for dredging operations is being implemented on a pilot basis in which no cost will be incurred by the state exchequer.
Addressing mediapersons in Kolkata, the minister said that the “no-cost” model, developed by West Bengal Mineral Development and Trading Corporation Ltd (WBMDTCL), is being currently implemented at five river stretches, including Damodar, Subarnarekha, Mayurakshi.
Under the model, Bhuiyan said: “The Irrigation Department will identify the reach of channel/khal/river to be dredged, evaluate the quantity of dredging and the nature of riverbed materials like sand clay, silt etc.”
“If the dredging is not a complex one, the concerned district administration will carry out the dredging with the support and supervision of the Irrigation and Waterways (I&WD) engineers, after engaging the contractor through a tender process. Otherwise, the dredging will be carried out by the I&WD.”
“Here, the engaged contractor, apart from paying the royalty on the dredged material, will give a part of the dredged soil at the government stackyard, which can be utilised for various purposes,” the minister said.
According to him, between 2011-12 and 2024-25, the state government on an average manually dredged 226 km of drainage channel/rivers and the average annual expenditure stood around Rs 500 crore.
The pilot project, on the other hand, has generated a revenue of Rs 112 crore totalling an area of 180 km of water bodies, including 28 canals and rivulets, the minister said. “Almost adopting the same methodology of WBMDTCL, I&WD has sent a proposal to the Finance Department for dredging on a premium sharing basis. Here, the engaged contractor, apart from paying royalty on dredged material, will give a premium at a contract rate/per cubic metre to the government. If approved, the said model will be implemented either through district administration or by I&WD itself. However, in both the cases there would not be any expenditure from the state government.”
