Aerial view of flood affected areas as Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) releases water from Panchet Dam, Howrah on Saturday (September 21, 2024) | Photo Credit: ANI
Amid a war of words between the West Bengal government and the Center over the release of water from Damodar Valley Corporation reservoirs, State Power Secretary Santanu Basu has quit the DVC board, officials said on Sunday (September 22, 2024).
The Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Waterways of West Bengal has also resigned from the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC), they said.
Mr. Basu in an email to the DVC chairman on September 21 said, “Due to the unprecedented and uncontrolled release of water by the DVC from its dam systems, resulting in widespread flooding causing great suffering to people in many parts of the state, I am therefore handing in my resignation letter as a member of the state on the DVC board.”
The Ministry of Information and Cultural Affairs in a statement on Sunday (September 22, 2024) said “Apart from the Energy secretary, the Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Waterways, West Bengal, also resigned to express protest over the same issue of the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC).” DVC Chairman S Suresh Kumar did not respond to repeated calls.
A DVC official who did not wish to be named said, “This is the first instance where a member of the provincial board has resigned, although the state has faced severe floods in the past.”
DVC’s current board has seven members, four from the company and three government shareholder representatives – one from the Center and one each from West Bengal and Jharkhand.
The DVC official said that the functioning of the board will not be disrupted as only two out of three government representatives have to cancel any decision of the board.
The resignation came after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote two letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the flood situation, alleging that the DVC had released water from its reservoirs without consulting her government, inundating many districts.
In response to the first letter of Ms. Banerjee to the PM, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil said that the state officials were informed at all levels about the release of water from DVC water, which was essential to prevent a major disaster.
Mr. Banerjee in her second letter to the Prime Minister on September 21 said, “Although the honorable minister said that the release of DVC reservoirs was done in coordination with the Damodar Valley Reservoir Management Committee, including consultation with representatives of the organization. of the West Bengal government, I would respectfully disagree.”
“All critical decisions are made by representatives of the Central Water Commission, Water Department, Jal Shakti, Government of India without reaching an agreement,” he said.
The Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC) comprises representatives of the Central Water Commission, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and DVC.
Published – September 22, 2024 05:17 pm IST