Jharkhand denies Mamata's charge over release of water in the state

Ranchi, Oct 16:

on Wednesday denied

's claim that it had released water without consultation, while Damodar Valley Corporation said it had informed collectors of six Bengal districts on October 11 following Cyclone Phailin.

"We consulted the secretary (West Bengal Water Resources Department) on the release of water," Jharkhand Water Resources Department's Principal Secretary Avinash Kumar told PTI.

"On previous occasions also water was released only after consultations and after informing them. This time everybody knew that there was possibility of heavy rains," he said.

DVC's Senior Public Relations Officer Vijay Kumar said the collectors of six districts in West Bengal were informed on October 11 before it began discharging water from October 13. He said the Panchet dam was still flowing above the danger level, while water level at the Maithon dam was almost the same during the day.

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"Panchet Dam, which was flowing at 428.7 against the danger mark of 425 feet yesterday, was flowing one feet above the mark on Wednesday," Kumar said. He said the water level at Maithon dam continued at the same level recorded yesterday at 494.7 feet against the danger mark of 495 feet.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday blamed the release of water from reservoirs in Jharkhand and the Damodar Valley Corporation for floods in a number of south Bengal districts. She also demanded the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the matter.

PTI