West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday dashed off a letter to Prime minister Narendra Modi seeking substantial central funds to
undertake extensive flood management work in the interest of the affected people.
In a four page letter to Prime Minister , the Chief Minister alleged that the state was facing worst flood since 2009 for the unplanned and unilateral release of huge volume of water by DVC.
Describing the flood as ” man made flood” she sought substantial central funds to
undertake extensive flood management work in the interest of the affected people.
” The state is now facing the biggest floods in Lower Damodar and adjoining areas since 2009. l earnestly request that you give this matter serious consideration and direct the concerned Ministries to address these issues on top priority, including the sanction and release of substantial Central funds to undertake extensive flood
management works in the interest of people, who suffer the most,” she wrote to the
PM after visiting the affected areas of South Bengal.
She blamed the Damodar Valley Corporation for releasing over 5.5 lakh cusecs of water
causing inundation of South Bengal’s entire districts.
” If this unilateral approach continues, bringing hardship to the people of my state, we will be left with no option but to disengage entirely from DVC and withdraw our participation. We can not allow this ongoing injustice to affect our people year after year”, Banerjee warned in the letter.
“Unplanned and unilateral release of an enormously huge volume of water at nearly 5 lakh cusecs from the combined system of Maithon and Panchet dams owned and maintained by the DVC led to the devastation.” the CM reiterated.
Meanwhile, essentials carrying trucks have been stranded on the Jharkhand-Bengal border since last evening after the Chief Minister ordered stopping of all vehicular traffic from Jharkhand.
Banerjee ordered the DGP to prohibit vehicular traffic from Jharkhand apprehending further damage to the highways and the villages in the marooned areas.
Truckers said they were from Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana carrying perishable goods like fruits and vegetables for delivery at the wholesale market in Burrabazar.
Banerjee alleged that DVC released water to save Jharkhand . She said while DVC released 4 lakh cusec of water another 1.5 cusec was released from Tenughat” she
wrote.
She also slammed the Centre for not dredging and desilting the depth to increase the capacity of DVC to hold more water, which now reduced to 36 per cent.
” Why don’t they want to take up dredging and desilting? Why should Bengal sink? . DVC doesn’t dredge, and Bengal sinks,” Banerjee said Thursday.
She said excess water from neighbouring regions, including rainwater from Nepal and Bhutan, enters Bengal, causing floods in North Bengal.
In South Bengal, water released by DVC led to severe flooding. She mentioned that Ganga erosion in Malda and other parts has worsened the situation.
