‘Legal steps will be taken against DVC for arbitrary release of water’

Banerjee said after holding the administrative review meeting of three districts ­- Malda, North and South Dinajpur - held in Islampur on Tuesday. It may be mentioned that Chief Minister had been expressing her annoyance over the DVC for releasing water during monsoon for the past few weeks since the state government had realised that release of water during monsoon season would leave several villages inundated. On Monday, 1,69,955 cusec of water was released and it left some villages in districts, including Howrah, Burdwan, Bankura, Malda and West Midnapore heavily inundated.

On Tuesday, she said: “We will not spare them if water is released further as per their wish without taking the state into confidence. We will take legal steps. There are laws and legal steps will be taken accordingly. They are releasing water by force and such things are not right.”

“It is in no one’s hand if there is any natural calamity. In such cases nothing can be done. But it is not right if someone wants to live by killing someone else,” she said.

Citing an example that reveals disparity in terms of releasing water, Banerjee said: “Districts like Purulia and Bankura do not get water during summer. Residents of the districts face lots of trouble due to crisis of water in summer and during monsoon villages get inundated as they release water. We cannot allow this.”

“We have to look into the situation in a different way if they continue doing so. They also need our help as they take up various projects in the state. We also have to rethink that how much co-operation we can extend,” she said adding that the Centre is yet to give a clearance for Ghatal masterplan. 

In a reply to a question in connection with the law and order situation, Chief Minister said that Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been asked to look into the situation in the border areas. She further said: “A pineapple house will be set up on acres of land at Bidhannagar in North Bengal to bring a development in pineapple cultivation and trade. Subsequently, it has been decided that we will take steps to do it in a better way. Steps have been taken for development of tourist spots in the region.”

She maintained in connection with tea gardens: “A tea directorate has been formed for tea gardens and a Rs 100 crore fund has been brought in place. This is the first time when a directorate has been formed in West Bengal and Chief Secretary is often holding meetings to resolve the tea garden related issues. But there is a conspiracy to take the Tea Board out of Kolkata. This is not right as there are tea gardens in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and North Dinajpur. But they are taking Tea Board out of Kolkata just due to political reasons. Our MPs have taken up the issue in the parliament. They will not do anything new here, but will take away whatever is exists.” She said a decision has been taken in Tuesday’s meeting to start classes of the Presidency College in Kurseong soon.