Mamata Banerjee Urges PM Modi for Help with Severe Flooding in South Bengal
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting severe flooding in South Bengal. The floods have impacted districts such as Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, Bankura, Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Medinipur, and Paschim Medinipur.
Banerjee attributed the flooding to the unplanned release of nearly 5 lakh cusec of water from the Maithon and Panchet dams, managed by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC). She described this as the biggest flood in the region since 2009, affecting over 1,000 square kilometers and nearly 5 million people.
The Chief Minister reported significant loss of crops, damage to public infrastructure, and destruction of homes and livestock. She mentioned that the state government is actively working to provide relief and evacuate people to safer areas.
Banerjee criticized the DVC for ignoring state government warnings about rising water levels and increasing water release from 90,000 cusec to 2,50,000 cusec within hours, worsening the situation. She called for better dam management practices and highlighted the reduced storage capacity of the Maithon and Panchet reservoirs due to siltation.
Additionally, Banerjee criticized the DVC’s focus on power generation over flood control and raised concerns about the lack of action on the Ghatal Master Plan. She warned that if the unilateral approach continues, the state may have to disengage from the DVC.
Banerjee requested the Prime Minister to take her concerns seriously and urged the release of funds for flood management efforts to help the affected population.
Doubts Revealed
Mamata Banerjee -: Mamata Banerjee is the Chief Minister of West Bengal, a state in India. She is the leader of the Trinamool Congress party.
PM Modi -: PM Modi refers to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is the head of the government in India.
West Bengal -: West Bengal is a state in the eastern part of India. It has a rich cultural heritage and is known for its festivals and food.
Damodar Valley Corporation -: The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) is an organization that manages dams and power plants in the Damodar River area. It helps in generating electricity and controlling floods.
Maithon and Panchet dams -: Maithon and Panchet are two dams located on the Damodar River. They help in storing water and generating electricity.
flood relief -: Flood relief refers to the help and support given to people affected by floods. This can include food, shelter, and money to rebuild homes.
power generation -: Power generation is the process of producing electricity. Dams like Maithon and Panchet generate electricity by using the flow of water.
disengagement -: Disengagement means stopping or reducing involvement in something. In this context, it means that the state might stop working with the DVC if the problems continue.
