E-Paper
2 dead as fresh floods sweep West Bengal
Mamata Banerjee contended that the floods in her state were caused due to the unplanned and enhanced discharge of water from dams and barrages in the neighbouring state without intimation.
At least two persons have died and over two million across nine districts have been affected as West Bengal faces another round of floods since July, amid heavy rains and increased discharge of water from upstream dams and barrages, officials familiar with the matter said.
While chief minister Mamata Banerjee held the Jharkhand government Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) responsible for the current “man-made” flood in South Bengal, the DVC refuted all charges.
Banerjee contended that the floods in her state were caused due to the unplanned and enhanced discharge of water from dams and barrages in the neighbouring state without intimation. “This is a man-made flood. Water was released without informing us. This is a crime. This is not the first time that such things have happened,” Banerjee told reporters.
Refuting the claims, a senior DVC official said: “The DVC alone doesn’t decide when and how much water would be released. The Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulatory Committee decides it. A chief engineer-rank official from the Bengal government is a member of the committee.” A low pressure system has led to extreme heavy rainfall in parts of south Bengal since September 29. Banerjee is likely to hold an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas on Saturday.
