“Why should Bengal sink?”: Mamata Banerjee Blames DVC and Jharkhand for Severe Flooding in Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday visited flood-affected regions of Panskura, Medinipur, expressing her deep concern about the situation. During her visit, Banerjee stated that the water released by Jharkhand and the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), a central government body has led to the severe flooding in Bengal. Mamata Banerjee described the floods as a “man-made disaster.”

“This is Jharkhand that released the water, and this is DVC, a central government agency. The amount of water released has gone beyond 4 lakh cusecs. It hasn’t ever happened in the past,” said Mamata Banerjee. She emphasized the extensive measures her government has taken to mitigate floods, including the construction of 5 lakh ponds and check dams costing Rs 5 lakh crore. She criticized the DVC for not conducting necessary dredging and desilting. “DVC’s total capacity is only 36 percent. Why don’t they want to conduct dredging and desilting? Why should Bengal sink?” she added hitting out at the DVC.

The Chief Minister highlighted how excessive rainwater from regions like Nepal and Bhutan contributes to flooding in North Bengal, while DVC’s water releases have caused significant issues in South Bengal. She pointed out the exacerbation of Ganga erosion in areas like Malda due to the flooding. Banerjee further claimed that the DVC is increasing the water releases, worsening the flood situation. She instructed residents to avoid returning to their homes until it is safe, saying, “Don’t mess with water and fire. Stay in safe places, let the water recede, and don’t return until it’s safe,” advised the West Bengal Chief Minister.

“I’ll be visiting Howrah next. I am in fear of what I’ve seen,” said Banerjee after inspecting the flood-hit areas in Paschim Medinipur and Hooghly. She asserted that she would sever ties with the DVC if they continued to jeopardize the people of Bengal. “We will abolish our relationship with them if they keep sinking the people of Bengal,” she added.

Describing the floods as a “man-made disaster,” Banerjee criticized the Union Government for its “irresponsible” behavior. She called for immediate evacuations from affected areas and underscored the need for enhanced safety measures. The Chief Minister visited flood-affected areas of Pursurah, Hoogly and Ghatal on Wednesday to take stock of the ground situation.