Bengal govt to reinstate state representative in DVRRC

Kolkata, May 19 West Bengal government has taken an in-principle decision to reinstate a nominee in the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee, which was withdrawn by the previous Trinamool Congress-ruled and Mamata Banerjee-led state cabinet.

In September 2024, Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, communicating her decision to withdraw representation from the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee because the Damodar Valley Corporation had been releasing water from dams in the state during the monsoon without giving prior intimation to the state government, resulting in inundation of several pockets in South Bengal.

The decision had attracted strong criticism from both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, with the latter claiming that since water from Damodar Valley Corporation reservoirs is released based on discussions within the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee, which has representation from the state government as well, the allegations of releasing water without prior intimation to the state government were baseless.

“Now, with the same ruling party at both the Centre and in West Bengal, the past days of confrontation with the Damodar Valley Corporation are over, and hence the new state government has decided to send its representative to the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee soon, definitely before the monsoon. A formal announcement on this count will be made soon,” said an insider from the current state secretariat of Nabanna.

He further said instructions from the Chief Minister’s Office had been sent to the state power department and the state irrigation department to work in close coordination with the Damodar Valley Corporation on the matter.

In fact, during her tenure as Chief Minister from 2011 to 2026, Mamata Banerjee consistently claimed that all critical decisions, including the release of floodwater, were taken unilaterally by the Central Water Commission and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti without reaching a consensus with the state government.

She had also accused the Damodar Valley Corporation of often releasing water from its reservoirs without prior notice to the state government, ignoring the state government's requests and views.

Now, with the new regime in place, the state government has decided to focus more on cooperation with the Damodar Valley Corporation rather than conflict to prevent flood situations in the state.

--IANS

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