News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/5th August 2024
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has raised concerns over the impact of water releases from Jharkhand’s Tenughat dam, which she alleges are contributing to severe flooding in her state. On Sunday, Banerjee contacted Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, requesting immediate action to address the situation caused by the dam’s sudden and substantial water discharge into the Damodar River.
Banerjee criticized the handling of water releases from the Tenughat dam, suggesting that the flooding in Bengal is a result of these actions and labeling the situation as a man-made disaster. She expressed her frustration with the fact that Jharkhand’s water management practices are causing significant distress in Bengal.
In her communication, Banerjee informed Soren about the dire situation in Bengal, noting the detrimental effects of the uncontrolled water discharge on her state. She also provided updates on the emergency measures she has initiated in response to the flooding. Through a post on social media platform X, Banerjee detailed her actions, including instructing district magistrates in both south and north Bengal to be highly vigilant and ensure effective management of the ongoing calamity. She emphasized the importance of taking all necessary precautions to prevent any further incidents.
On the same day, the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) reported that it had released 120,000 cusecs of water from the Panchet and Maithon dams, located along the Jharkhand-Bengal border, following the heavy discharge from the Tenughat dam. This release was preceded by a discharge of 90,000 cusecs from these dams the previous day. DVC’s Maithon dam executive director, Anjani Dubey, reassured that the situation was under control with reduced rainfall expected, which would likely lead to decreased water discharge from the Tenughat dam. Dubey also highlighted the improvements made by the Bengal government in managing water flow, which he believes will mitigate the flood threat.
Despite these assurances, some rivers in Bengal, including the Damodar, were reported to be approaching their danger marks. The East Burdwan District Magistrate, K Radhika Ayar, confirmed that the district administration had been put on high alert in response to the situation. In Howrah, District Magistrate P Deepappriya visited areas such as Udaynarayanpur, Jagatballavpur, and Amta to assess the impact. Reports indicated that the River Mundeswari in Amta was flowing above the danger mark.
In a related development, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma weighed in on the controversy, criticizing Banerjee for blaming Jharkhand. Sarma pointed out that Assam frequently experiences flooding due to water from Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan but does not blame these neighboring regions. He urged both Jharkhand and Bengal to collaborate on addressing the flooding issues rather than placing blame.
The situation remains dynamic, with ongoing efforts from both state governments to manage and mitigate the impact of the flooding. The collaboration between Jharkhand and Bengal is crucial to effectively managing the crisis and ensuring the safety and well-being of affected communities.
