CM slams Centre over attempt to shift DVC HQ

Kolkata: Launching a scathing attack at the Centre, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the attempt of shifting the headquarters of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) from Bengal.

It may be mentioned that an attempt has been made to shift the headquarters of DVC from Kolkata to Jharkhand. There is a plan to set up the new headquarters at Ranchi.

While leaving Nabanna on Monday evening, the Chief Minister said: "It is a conspiracy against the state to shift the headquarters. Chief Secretary Malay De will be writing a letter (to the Centre) strongly condemning the move."

"The step has been taken to deprive the state and similar letters were written by the state government to the Centre for other companies, including Burn Standard Company," she said.

It may be mentioned that DVC operates both thermal power and hydel power generation plants and it has had its headquarters in Kolkata for decades, since its inception. But for certain reasons, there has been an attempt to shift the headquarters to Jharkhand.

Since the very first day the matter came to light, the Mamata Banerjee government has been protesting against the move. Finally on Monday, the Chief Secretary has been directed to write a letter to the Centre, strongly condemning the move.

It may be mentioned that the state government had earlier criticised the role of DVC, stating that the actual motto of the corporation has shifted, to only generate more power to augment revenue, instead of taking any step to check floods.

Despite repeated requests, no step was taken for desiltation work in Lower Damodar, which leads to flood in districts, including Howrah and Hooghly.

The state government itself is carrying out the Lower Damodar project now, with the help of World Bank.