1. INTRODUCTION Draft Development Plan 2 1. INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTORY NOTE By CHAIRMAN “Ranaghat is a small but growing town in West Bengal , and poised to grow more because of the excellent transport linkages; but will require more and more infrastructure facilities to offer good quality of life it’s citizens. The industrial development presently is in terms of small units consisting of handlooms and power-looms. Ranaghat, inhabited by a population of 68,754 (according to 2001 census) has a total area of 7. 72 sq. k.m. Chairman, Ranaghat Municipality Since the eighties the process of decentralization of planning process was initiated in West Bengal. In the year 1993 amended West Municipal Act’1993 it was mandatory for the local bodies to prepare Draft Development Plan. However, for various reasons this did not materialize and development programme was continued on an ad hoc basis. Presently the Municipality has taken up preparation of DDP under the KUSP programme. During the post independence period due to population increase, unplanned development, socio-economy disparity, there has been migration of poor people and increase in the percentage of population in the BPL group. The basic thrust of preparation of DDP is taking up plans and programmes for overall improvement of the Municipality with special emphasis on poverty alleviation programmes for the poor and marginalized group. In the Municipality we therefore, want to take up various development programmes for the urban poor like self employment, vocational training, technical training etc. We want prioritisation of projects through stakeholders’ consultation, encouraging local unemployed youths for taking part in different development programme so that we can reach the fruits of development at the grass root level. The Municipality therefore, wants to proceed with better waste management procedure, following antipollution measures as per existing rules and through proper regulation of land use control regulation. Improvements in the existing water supply arrangements, proper maintenance of drainage canals, improvement and widening of roads and laying of sewer line. For all these we in the Municipality want to work together with surrounding Municipalities and Panchayets. We strongly feel that a sound economic base can only help us in achieving all our desired goals. We therefore want computerization of various functions, introduction of G.I.S, better financial management, introduction accrual system of accounting, better transparency in plans & programmes more active citizens, interface and interaction. At the same time we will try to create an enabling environment for revival of sick industries. The other areas where we want to extend our activities are primary health care including preventive health care programme, primary education including vigorous campaigning“Sarba Siskha Avijan” etc. For better service delivery the Municipality has already introduced Citizens’ Charter. We hope that through various interactions and interface programme with elected representatives, citizens and various C.D.S groups, newer ideas will come up and a consensus can be arrived for preparing a meaningful Draft Development Plan for the Municipality.” Partha Sarathi Chatterjee Chairman Ranaghat Municipality Ranaghat Municipality Draft Development Plan 3 1.1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Overview Ranaghat Municipality was established in 1864. The town of Ranaghat is located in 23 011’ N and 88 0 34’ E in the eastern side of Churni River. The town is located to the North of Kolkata at a distance of about 75 kms. The district headquarters of Krishna nagar is at a distance of about 40 k.m. This town is very well linked with Kolkata through a broad gauge railway line as well as through the National Highway no. 34. Ranaghat Municipality was established in 1864. It started functioning on 21.9.1984 with its office housed in a building donated by the then Zaminder family viz. Pal Chowdhury family. In the beginning area of the municipality was 3.32 sq. miles and this area was demarcated into 6 wards covering a total population of 6000. It was the 7 th Municipality of undivided Bengal. No. of councilors of the first Board was 18 out of which 12 were elected by citizens, 4 were nominated by the state Govt. and the remaining 2 were ex-officio councilors. In course of time Nasra Colony, a refugee settlement, was added to the Municipality and its area became 7.72 sq.k.m. With the increase of area and population the municipality had to be demarcated into 16 wards in 1990 and to 19 wards since 1995 by bifurcation of ward nos. 11, 12,14,16,17. Present population of the municipality is 68,754 as per census 2001. Linkages Ranaghat Municipality is well connected by Rail and Road to Kolkata, Berhampur, Krishnanagar, Gede, Bongaon and many other towns of West Bengal. Eastern Railway connects Ranaghat with Sealdah in the north and with Krishnanagar in the south. Other more railway connectivity exists in Ranaghat with Bongaon, Gede and shantipur. NH-34 passes through this Municipality and several bus routes are available for journey to remote towns of North Bengal namely Siliguri, Coochbehar, Raigunj, Malda etc. Besides, there is a river named Churni flowing by the side of this Municipality and journey by boat through this water-ways to adjacent Gram Panchayet areas is also possible. Ranaghat being a sub- divisional town, it is connected by several motorable roads to different villages lying in its hinterlands. Key issues At present, the entire population of Ranaghat Municipality is fully dependent on Ground water. According to Public Health Engineering Report on water quality, the quality of the source has reached to an alarming level due to the presence of Arsenic beyond its permissible limit. Other than this, severe water logging even so in rainy season is a major problem. Drainage seems to be an inherent and the most serious problem in Ranaghat as well as parts of adjacent Panchayat areas. Management of solid waste to keep out city clean and at the same time to make ourselves able to live a healthy life has become a serious problem and Ranaghat municipal area. Ranaghat Municipality Draft Development Plan 4 Table 1.1 Town Profile – At a Glance General Data for Executive Summary (Report as on 31.12.2007) Area 7.72 sq. k.m. Population 2001 68,754 Slum Total 56; 30 covered under IHSDP and 26 are newly identified. Slum Population 16066; where 7396 covered under IHSDP and 8670 are covered under DDP. Population Below Poverty Level 22,816 Ward 19 Holding ( No of Households ) 15,801 Total no. of markets 8 no.s Post Office 1 no. Banks 5 no.s No. of Parks 6 no.s No. of Bus Stand 3 no.s No. of Truck Terminal 1 no. No. of burning ghat 1 no. Land Use Residential 7.11784 Commercial 0.133556 Industrial 0.041688 Public and Semi – Public 0.072568 Public Parks and Gardens 0.165208 Open Space 0.000849 Water bodies 0.180648 Drainage Length of Drain Pucca – 135 k.m. and Kancha – 61.20 k.m. Street and Street Light Total length of Pucca Road 107.25 k.m.s Total length of Kancha Road 61.20 k.m. including brick road Total length of road under street lighting 147.55 k.m.s No. of Poles 3545 no.s (Tube light- 3225 , vapour – 320) Water Supply Quantity of supply 70 lpcd Coverage 60% Supply hours 8 hours Total no. of house connection 4280 No. of overhead reservoir 1 no. with Capacity of 1,25,000 Gallon Total length of pipeline 110 k.m. Solid waste Collection Solid waste generation total per day 70.15 metric ton/day Per Capita Solid waste generation 250 gm. Total O & M Cost for SWM Rs.30,00,000 /year No. of Dumping Ground 1 Sewerage and Sanitation Sewerage connection Nil Total no. of Sanitary latrines with septic 13118+2056 pour flush tank % of household covered 85% No. of Community Toilet 2 Poverty Alleviation No. of CDS 2 No. of NHC 19 no.s No. of NHG 264 no.s Ranaghat Municipality Draft Development Plan 5 No. of TCG formed 155 no.s No. of Beneficiaries of TCG Group 2617 Amount of Thrift collected 10.10 lakhs Amount of revolving fund received 5.05 lakhs No. of persons availed Revolving fund 220 no. Amount of loan availed from revolving 4.40 lakhs fund Amount of Revolving fund Recovered 3.08 lakhs No. of DWCUA Group formed 7 no. No. of Beneficiaries of DWCUA Group 86 No. of DWCUA loan sponsored to Bank 7 No. of DWCUA loan sanctioned by Bank 4 Amount of subsidy received from SUDA 4.94 lakhs Amount of loan disbursed by Bank 0.57 lakh No. of application sponsored to Bank for 522 no.s USEP(Micro Enterprise) No. of application sanctioned by Bank for 163 no. USEP(Micro Enterprise) Amount of subsidy received from SUDA 5.51 lakhs in USEP ( skill training) Amount of lon disbursed by Bank in 20.30 lakhs USEP ( skill training) Total no. of person have been trained in 375 no.s USEP ( skill training) Fund received from SUDA in UWEP 77.28 lakhs Fund disbursed 76.11 lakhs Education No. of C.E.C centre opened 20 no.s No. of Schools Total 44 ; where Primary – 29, High– 14, Jr. High - 1 No. of municipal School Nil No. of Pre-Primary School / I.C.D.S 34 no.s Health No. of Maternity Home 1 no. Health Sub-Centres under C.B.P.H.C 4 no.s No. of Ambulance 1 no. On the basis of West Bengal Municipal Act’1993 (CAA 1992) Ranaghat Municipality has been attempted to make Draft Development Plan (DDP) covering a period of five years.