Warning against high tides which could worsen the North Bengal floods on October 7 and 8, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday blamed the Centre for the situation and renewed her attack on the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), accusing it of the “unilateral and wilful” release of water from its reservoirs. “.Because of DVC’s Panchet and Maithon releases, waterlogging has already occurred in Ghatal. The Ghatal Master Plan has not been implemented even 20 years after the Centre promised it, so we are doing it ourselves. But even if that is completed, as long as DVC keeps releasing water like this, we will need another solution,” Banerjee said on X. She questioned the utility of the dams, saying the state “doesn’t need them” if they cannot hold water. Before leaving for a two-day visit to North Bengal to oversee rescue operations, Banerjee posted, “If the Central Government did its job of dredging the Ganga-Hugli at several critical points, and if DVC did its desiltation works, our people would have been spared the man-made flood affecting large tracts of North and South Bengal this season. Our own irrigation works and check dams have helped arrest damages in many areas.” She also pointed to the Teesta, saying, “In Sikkim, they have built 40 hydropower projects on the Teesta. Where will that water drain? It is coming to Siliguri, Matigara, and Kalimpong. We are facing the problems while they are earning money.” During a media address, Banerjee said, “I have been saying this for the past 20 years—Maithon, DVC, Panchet: they don’t even have the capacity to hold water. Then what’s the point of keeping them? It would have been better if we didn’t have them. The water would have entered and flowed out naturally. Now we are facing the consequences, especially in North Bengal. They are releasing water through the Durgapur Barrage, and the force is destroying bridges and everything in its path.” In another post on Monday, she said, “Today, we are leaving for North Bengal. I will stay there for two days to monitor rescue and restoration works. My Chief Secretary is accompanying me, and the DG of Police has already gone there. Ministers and public representatives have been mobilised across affected parts of North Bengal, especially the worst-hit areas.” Banerjee added that police and administrative teams were conducting rescue and relief operations, opening community kitchens and assisting distressed families. “Tourists are being safely evacuated, and where hotel accommodation is needed, it will be arranged at our cost. Special Volvo and long-distance buses have been mobilised by the North Bengal State Transport Corporation,” she said. On compensation, Banerjee announced, “While death cannot be compensated, we will give Rs 5 lakh to the family of each deceased and a special Home Guard’s job to one kin as a gesture.” She and the Chief Secretary are scheduled to land at the Hasimara helipad and then travel to Nagrakata. “We will try to reach as much as possible and talk with affected families,” she said. Criticising the Centre, Banerjee alleged, “The money they use for vote rigging and politically manipulating the Election Commission—they have stopped Bengal’s funds for floods, roads, housing, everything. Even though we supported GST for the people, we have suffered a Rs 20,000 crore loss. We are owed Rs 1.85 lakh crore from the Centre. Add another Rs 20,000 crore to that. Where will we get the money from?”
