Bengal urges DVC not to release more water

Kolkata, Sep 7: The West Bengal government on Sept 6 urged the Damodar Valley Corporation not to release more water to prevent flooding of a number of south Bengal districts, which witnessed heavy rains over the last two days.

"A very heavy rainfall was witnessed over the last two days. Also, the DVC authorities released 24,000 cusecs of water yesterday and 44,000 cusecs today. We have cautioned them against releasing more water.

It may inundate a vast area in a number of south Bengal districts," state Irrigation Minister Rajib Banerjee said. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also expressed her annoyance over DVC releasing more water despite being requested by the state government not to do so.

"The CM, who is now in Germany, is very concerned about the situation following torrential rain over the last two days. On her advice, I have written a strongly-worded letter to the DVC authorities, asking them not to release more water and wait until the water level reaches the extreme danger mark," the Irrigation Minister said.

The DVC authorities could not be contacted for their comment in this regard. Though rains in major parts of West Bengal have abated, it is still pouring heavily in Jharkhand. A huge volume of water, released by the DVC over the past few days, has flooded several villages in Burdwan, Howrah and Hooghly districts.

PTI