For flood to disappear,govt looks to sky

The state government on Sunday sounded optimistic of the flood-like situation in the southern districts of Bengal slowly receding.

Quoting the MeT department,Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh said though there are possibility of more rain or thundershowers over Gangetic areas of Bengal in the next few days,its effect on the state is minimum. If there is no major rainfall in the next few days,the threat of flood may disappear, he said.

State Irrigation Minister Manas Bhuniya said on the state governments request,Damodar Valley Corporation has reduced the quantum of water discharge to 95,000 cusecs from the estimated 1,05,000 cusecs. Similarly from Durgapur barrage,the water outflow has been reduced to 1,37,000 cusecs against estimated 1,47,000 cusecs.

Discharge from Kangsabati barrage has also been reduced to 30,000 cusec from the estimated 40,000 cusec,which might decrease gradually.

With the quantum of discharges from the DVC and Durgapur barrage decreasing gradually,the minister said the government was ready to take steps against any difficult situation. Repair of breaches on the Damodar river embankments at five places in the Udaynarayanpur block of Howrah district have been undertaken by officials of the Irrigation Department,Bhuniya said.

Meanwhile,district magistrates of Howrah,Hooghly,Burdwan and East Midnapore have been alerted by the DVC and Durgapur barrage authorities of possible discharge of water.

East Midnapore and West Midnapore districts faced an additional threat of release of water from the Kangsabati barrage as the district magistrates there have been so informed by the barrage authorities,Bhunia said after a review meeting.

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