Government Confirms DVC Followed All Norms for Water Release Amid Flooding Claims in West Bengal

The central government has clarified that all protocols were adhered to when releasing water from the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC). This statement comes in response to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claims that the water discharge led to flooding in the state. Earlier, Banerjee attributed the floods in parts of Bengal to water released by the DVC, a central government entity.

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"This is a man-made flood, and it's unfortunate," Banerjee remarked. The Union power ministry countered these accusations, stating that all relevant authorities were notified about the planned water release from the dams. The Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC), which includes representatives from West Bengal, Jharkhand, the Central Water Commission, and DVC, advised on all releases.

Heavy Rainfall and River Overflow

Significant rainfall occurred in the lower Damodar valley area in West Bengal due to a deep depression over Gangetic West Bengal and later over Jharkhand from September 14-15. The Upper Valley in Jharkhand experienced heavy rain from September 15-16. However, no further rain was recorded after September 17. Rivers in South Bengal, such as Amta Channel and Mundeswari for River Damodar, were overflowing.

Other rivers like Silabati, Kangsabati, and Dwarakeshwar, which are connected with the Damodar, also saw high water levels. The Tenughat Dam in Jharkhand released a substantial 85,000 cusecs of water, exacerbating the situation. The Jharkhand government declined to include this dam under DVRRC's jurisdiction.

Efforts to Manage Water Releases

All water release decisions from Maithon and Panchet dams were made after consulting with DVC and the West Bengal government. Every effort was made to prevent dam releases from coinciding with drainage congestion in the lower valley. DVC even allowed the Panchet reservoir to exceed its land acquisition level, reaching a maximum of RL. 425.22 ft by 17:00 hours on September 17, 2024.

Due to uncontrollable factors and dam safety concerns, combined peak releases from Maithon and Panchet dams reached 2.5 lakh cusecs between 8:00 hours and 18:00 hours on September 17. This was gradually reduced to 80,000 cusecs by 6:50 hours on September 19.

The ministry emphasised that these measures were necessary for safety and were executed with careful planning. Despite efforts to manage water flow effectively, natural factors played a significant role in the situation.