2 min readKolkataMar 21, 2015 01:25 AM IST
First published on: Mar 21, 2015 at 01:25 AM IST
In the previous letter, she had requested for a waiver for the debt-ridden Bengal.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his immediate intervention for phase-wise replacement of Farakka barrage gates, one of which had collapsed recently.
This is the second time in 10 months in which the CM has written to the Prime Minister. In the previous letter, she had requested for a waiver for the debt-ridden Bengal.
Mamata has asked Modi to address the Farakka barrage issue as the gate number 49 had suddenly collapsed on March 15, 2015, leading to free flow of water down the barrage through that opening. Before submitting a detailed report to the Centre on this issue, state Power Minister Manish Gupta and Irrigation Minister Rajib Banerjee visited the barrage site, located 17 km from the Bangladesh border, and spoke to the officials there.
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In a related statement posted in the party website, the TMC says,”The state is passing through a critical period, when availability of water is on the lower side but demand is peaking up. The farmers are facing dire consequences with low supply of irrigation water.”
Meanwhile, it was learnt that minister Rajib Banerjee had already written to the Union Ministry of Water Resources informing it about the grave situation.
“Collapse of more gates will adversely affect movement of barges carrying goods, municipal water supply, power generation and livelihood of people employed at Haldia,” added the statement.
It further added that the Kolkata Ports can be severely hit in case of any dislocation in water supply to Bhagirathi river.
In the previous letter, she had requested for a waiver for the debt-ridden Bengal.
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