Kolkata, 6 August (H.S.) Serious flood situation has arisen in many districts of West Bengal due to continuous rains and water released by Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC). A fierce political debate has once again erupted between the Centre and the state government on this issue. Trinamool MP Ritbrata Banerjee asked four important questions to the Ministry of Water Power. He wanted to know whether DVC has released a total of 27,000 million cubic metres of water in West Bengal since June 18, and if yes, whether any discussion was held with the state government before releasing the water. If there was a discussion, what is its detail, and if there was no discussion, what was the reason behind it.

In his written reply, Water Power Minister CR Patel said that a total of 27,987 million cubic metres of water has been released from Maithan and Panchet reservoirs between June 18 and July 15. He also said that the decision to release water is taken by DVC and its associated committee, which also includes representatives from Central Water Commission, River Management Department, Jharkhand and West Bengal Government. The minister clarified that DVC works as per the instructions of DVRC so that apart from flood control, drinking water, irrigation, transport and industrial needs of Jharkhand and West Bengal can also be met.

However, Ritbrata Banerjee was dissatisfied with this answer of the central government. He said that the ministry did not clarify whether any discussion was really held with the state government before releasing water or not. Just stating that there is a committee is not enough, because the existence of a committee and active dialogue are two different things.

He alleged that the Center has deliberately given details of water release for only 28 days instead of two months' data. Ritbrata said, We had asked how much water was released in total, then the government gave information about one month. Whereas the reality is that in the two months of June and July, DVC has released a total of 50,287 million cubic meters of water. This is 30 times more than 2023 and 11 times more than 2024.

Accusing DVC and the central government of conspiring to submerge Bengal, he said, There has been huge crop loss in South Bengal. People have become homeless. This is completely a 'man-made disaster'. The BJP government has conspired against Bengal by releasing water through DVC. But the people of Bengal will give a befitting reply to this in the 2026 assembly elections.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey