Team News Riveting
Kolkata, August 4
Even as the flood condition worsened in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blamed the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for the natural calamity.
On Wednesday, eight more lives were lost; taking the toll to 23 as fresh areas went under water. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee complained to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) caused the “man-made” deluge by releasing water from its dams in an unprecedented manner.
The DVC, however, said that it discharges water after taking consent of the state government and blaming it for the flood is not justified
The DVC, however, rejected the charge saying it does not decide about water regulation and decisions on this are taken by the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC) where the state’s irrigation secretary is a member.
The prime minister telephoned Banerjee in the afternoon to take stock of the flood situation that had affected seven districts of the state. During the talks, the CM blamed the DVC for the flood in the state and raised the issue in a letter she wrote to Modi in the evening.
Heavy rain and subsequent discharge of water in the last few days have inundated large parts of Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Hooghly, Howrah, South 24 Parganas and Birbhum districts.
A tweet issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that Modi assured Banerjee of all support from the Centre to help mitigate the situation.
“PM @narendramodi spoke to WB CM @MamataOfficial on the flood situation caused by water discharge from dams in parts of the state. The PM assured all possible support from the Centre to help mitigate the situation. PM Modi prays for the safety and wellbeing of those in affected areas,” the PMO tweeted.
