Bengal govt sends missive to DVC to restrain release of water

State Irrigation Minister Rajib Banerjee asked his department to inform DVC about the present situation, after being instructed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is currently on tour in Germany. The department sent two emails to the DVC authorities.

Condemning the repeated release of water without paying heed to the state’s requests, the department clearly said that DVC would have to take responsibility if a flood-like situation arises during the heavy thundershowers in Gangetic Bengal. “Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is concerned about the present situation. We have sent two emails to DVC referring to the torrential rainfall and said the release of water should be immediately stopped to avert any flood like situation,” the state irrigation minister said. 

Even though there were no thunderstorms in Kolkata and other parts of Bengal on Tuesday, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has not ruled out the possibility of heavy rainfall till Wednesday night.

The deep depression may turn towards Bangladesh but its effect would remain for some time, according to the Meteorological department said.

Rural Howrah, Burdwan and Hooghly were flooded due to the release of extra water from different barrages by DVC. According to a state secretariat source, around 49,000 cusec of water was released from Durgapur Barrage and 24,000 cusec from the Maithon and Panchet dams.

Rail passengers were inconvenienced throughout the day as most of the Eastern and South Eastern railway tracks were underwater. The automatic signalling system, which controls the easy flow of rail traffic, was also disrupted.

The heavy downpour resulted in an inundation between the lines of Tikiapara car shed and Howrah station disabling trains from running on time.

The railway authorities transferred several trains, which were supposed to start from Howrah, to Satragachi which eventually created a problem for the passengers who could not get the news in time. “The railway authority should be prepared for such natural calamities. Why should the passengers suffer,” a daily commuter in Howrah expressed his dissatisfaction.

Life in Kolkata came to a standstill due to heavy showers, for the last two days, triggered by a low-pressure over the north-western part of Bay of Bengal. Traffic came to a virtual halt in North and Central Kolkata with streets being submerged in water. Thousands were stranded at various points in and around the central business district that witnessed an exceptional clogging.

Meanwhile, the high tidal effect in the river Hooghly worsened the situation. The water in the city roads could not be released due to the tidal effect. The outflow had flooded most of the roads in South and North Kolkata including posh township Salt Lake.

The rail authority tried their best to release water from the railway tracks, but it seemed quite impossible on Tuesday, with most of the trains being delayed.