In a strong reaction to the recent floods in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has blamed the Jharkhand government for exacerbating the situation through the release of water from the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) reservoirs. Banerjee, labeling the floods as a “man-made disaster,” has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that the unplanned discharge of water has devastated numerous districts in South Bengal.
The floods have affected over 1,000 square kilometers, impacting nearly 5 million people. In her letter, Banerjee emphasized that the unprecedented release of approximately 500,000 cusecs of water from the Maithon and Panchet dams was responsible for the current crisis.
To mitigate the situation, her government has sealed the borders with Jharkhand and halted the entry of heavy vehicles. “We will be left with no option but to disengage entirely from DVC if this unilateral approach continues,” she warned.
The response from the Jharkhand government has been muted, leading to criticism from BJP leaders, who argue that the floods reflect the failures of Banerjee’s administration rather than external factors. BJP officials have suggested that the Chief Minister is diverting attention from pressing local issues by targeting Jharkhand.
The Union power ministry clarified that water releases were made in consultation with all relevant authorities, including representatives from both West Bengal and Jharkhand.
As the situation develops, the focus remains on the humanitarian impact of the floods and the political ramifications of Banerjee’s response.