Mamata writes to Modi over "man-made floods" slamming DVC, demands intervention

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a detailed letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) of causing severe floods in the state through the unplanned release of water. Banerjee's letter highlights the devastating impact this release has had on southern Bengal, affecting over 5 million people and inundating districts such as Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, Bankura, Howrah, Hooghly, and Medinipur. She describes the event as a "man-made flood," asserting that the DVC’s poor management of water levels led to the crisis.

In her letter, Banerjee expresses her frustration over the lack of coordination and communication with the DVC and claims that despite her requests and warnings, the release of water from the Maithon and Panchet dams continued at an alarming rate. She adds that this has caused unprecedented damage to infrastructure, homes, and farmlands. The Chief Minister also calls attention to the worsening condition of the Damodar River's flood management system, accusing the DVC of focusing more on power generation than its legal obligation to control flooding in the region.

Banerjee also raised concerns over the reduction in water-holding capacity in the DVC reservoirs due to siltation, which she claims has decreased by 30%. She mentions that despite multiple requests and discussions with the Central Government, no effective action has been taken to address this issue. The Chief Minister adds that she had flagged this issue in forums such as NITI Aayog and with Union Minister of Jal Shakti, but little has been done.

Additionally, Banerjee criticizes the central government’s failure to act on the Ghatal Master Plan, which could have prevented such floods. She asserts that if the situation persists and the interests of West Bengal continue to be overlooked, her government may consider disengaging entirely from the DVC.

In her plea to the Prime Minister, Banerjee urges immediate intervention from the central government and the release of funds to manage flood control measures more effectively. She insists that the suffering of the people of West Bengal should not be ignored any longer.