CM Mamata Banerjee Blames Centre-Run DVC For Floods In West Bengal, Urges PM Modi To Look Into Matter

Earlier in the day, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee had informed that four lakh people of the state have been affected by the floods and the state government was providing them relief.

CM Mamata Banerjee & PM Narendra Modi (File Pic)

New Delhi: Taking a swipe at the Union government, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that Centre doesn't send funds to the state during difficult times.

She once again raised question over funds sent during recent cyclones while drawing comparison with “thousands of Central forces and security” sent to every BJP leader.

Addressing a press conference virtually, CM Mamata Banerjee blamed Centre-run DVC for floods in sections of West Bengal: “This is a man-made flood. DVC is run by the Centre. Jharkhand government is our friend. I wanted them to discuss this matter with me before they decided to release this water. On September 30, they (DVC) released the water without informing us at Maithon dam. The same day, Jharkhand government also released water“, news agency ANI reported. 

“Next day (on October 1), they released the water again. More than 10 lakh cusecs water was released. Is this move justified? Can DVC release water every time like this? You see...Monsoon season couldn't flood us, but this water flooded us,” she added, as quoted by ANI.

The West Bengal Chief Minister said that will ask the Jharkhand government to raise this issue as the Union government needs to check on DVC.

“I have written multiple times to the Prime Minister in this regard,“ she said, adding that “I request the Prime Minister to take care of himself. The Home Minister sends thousands of central forces and provide security to every BJP leader here, but feel reluctant to disburse funds during such times. What funds had you given us during Cyclone Amphan, Fani, Bulbul and Yaas....we all know it!“.

Mamata Banerjee Conducts Aerial Survey

Earlier today, CM Mamata Banerjee conducted an aerial survey of a few flood-hit areas and said that she would urge Jharkhand to prepare a plan in consultation with her government to mitigate floods in the region.

Speaking to reporters at a flood relief camp in Arambagh in the Hooghly district, the West Bengal Chief Minister said that she will request the Union government to prepare a master plan to prevent floods.

“This is a man-made flood. I will request Jharkhand to prepare a plan in consultation with us. Will request the Centre to prepare a master plan to prevent recurrence of floods. Had the dams in Jharkhand been dredged, Bengal would not have faced such a situation,” she said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

The situation in parts of East and West Midnapore, Bankura, Hooghly, Birbhum, Howrah and East and West Burdwan was grim due to excessive discharge of water by DVC, following rains in Jharkhand, the Chief Minister informed.

She further stated that four lakh people of the state have been affected by the floods and the state government was providing them relief.

Fifty rescue and relief teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and SDRF were working in the affected areas, CM Mamata added.

(With Inputs From Agencies)