In Shorts:
- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accuses the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) of causing “man-made” floods through sudden water release.
- The alleged lack of prior warning from DVC is cited as a critical failure, exacerbating the crisis for residents.
- The state government announces compensation for affected families and demands central intervention for the “national disaster.”
KOLKATA – The plains of West Bengal are grappling with a severe flood situation, but the state’s political landscape is witnessing a storm of its own. In a charged press conference at the state secretariat on Tuesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not mince words, attributing the widespread inundation to a “man-made” disaster allegedly orchestrated by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC).
Banerjee presented a stark picture, accusing the central government-controlled DVC of releasing water from its dams without providing the state with adequate prior warning. This sudden discharge, she argued, has turned a manageable monsoon situation into a catastrophic event for the residents of several districts.
“The situation in Bengal is not a natural calamity; it is a man-made one,” the Chief Minister stated emphatically. “The DVC has opened all its gates and released water without any prior intimation to us. This has led to a sudden and dangerous rise in water levels, submerging vast areas.”
The TMC supremo drew a sharp contrast with the state’s own handling of the situation, praising her government’s management of the state-owned dams. “We managed our dams responsibly, but the DVC’s actions have created an emergency,” she added.
Highlighting the human cost of the crisis, Banerjee announced a compensation package of ₹1.2 lakh for the families of those who have lost their lives in the floods. She also detailed the state’s extensive relief efforts, which include the distribution of tarpaulins, dry food, medicine, and the deployment of rescue teams.
The Chief Minister’s allegations place the spotlight firmly on the long-standing tussle between the state and the DVC over water management during the monsoon. Framing the floods as a “national disaster,” she called for immediate intervention from the Centre, signaling that this issue is set to become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing political friction between the TMC and the BJP-led central government.
As the waters slowly recede, the political ripples from these accusations are only beginning to spread, leaving citizens caught between nature’s fury and a brewing administrative blame game.
Leave a Reply