West Bengal signs MoU with GIZ for basin-based masterplans of Ichhamati and Jalangi rivers

Exam-focused facts from the 3 March 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The Government of West Bengal signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with German federal enterprise GIZ and the State Mission for Clean Ganga (SMCG) on 23 February to develop basin-based masterplans for Ichhamati and Jalangi rivers.
The project is the first under the state’s 2025-26 budget scheme ‘nodi bandhan’ with a budgetary provision of ₹200 crore.
Ichhamati and Jalangi are the first two of West Bengal’s 39 river sub-basins selected for such masterplan development.
The masterplan scope includes dredging for increased water flow, pollution control, erosion minimisation, groundwater recharge, flood mitigation and enhanced irrigation supply.
Implementation is expected to start after plan approval and finish within one year.