'Have requested DVC not to release additional water'

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday urged the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) not to release additional water which might inundate more areas in South Bengal.

Talking to newsmen in New Delhi, Banerjee said: "I have requested DVC not to release additional water. There has been incessant rain and also some more showers and high tides are expected in September. We should work in a coordinated manner," she maintained.

Panchet has released 75492 cusec water despite repeated pleas by the state government as a result of which various parts of South and Western districts are becoming heavily inundated.

The state Irrigation department has written to the DVC requesting them not to release additional water but they have allegedly turned a deaf ear. Panchet dam has a capacity of holding water up to 7 feet. Despite this, the DVC has allegedly released additional water from Panchet dam.

"DVC has repeatedly been requested to carry out desiltation works in Damodar river. As it was not properly done, the capacity of holding the water in the river has been reduced. They are not listening to our pleas which will not be tolerated," state Irrigation minister Rajib Banerjee said.

It may be mentioned that the state government has written to DVC, Central Water Commission and also Jharkhand government to consider their pleas in regard to the release of additional water from the barrages.

Chief Secretary of

the state on Tuesday called up a senior official in Jharkhand government requesting him to restrict the release of additional water from Tenughat as it is managed by the Jharkhand government.

Konar, Tilaiya, Maithon and Panchet all of them are situated in Jharkhand and are controlled by the DVC.

It may be mentioned that the situation in West Midnapore, Burdwan and Bankura continues to be grim.

Satighat Bridge which

is the main gateway to

Bankura town went under water as the Gandheswari river got flooded.

The road connectivity was disrupted as the roads in the area went under water. This also led to heavy inundation at various parts of the district. Vast areas of Asansol in West Burdwan and parts of West Midnapore also remained inundated. The situation deteriorated in Jambani under West Midnapore as Dulung river over flooded.

The situation in Birbhum slightly improved after water level in Kopai, Mayurakshi and Brahmani receded.