Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has stated that she “did not care” if the Centre shifted the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) headquarters out of Kolkata, highlighting that she did not want an organisation responsible for causing deaths by releasing water to remain in the state.
Speaking during an administrative meeting in Bolpur, it was expressed by her that DVC had been releasing water unilaterally, inundating Bengal and resulting in casualties. Banerjee’s remarks followed her visit to flood-affected regions in south Bengal, where the floods were termed “man-made.”
Banerjee’s communication to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the form of two letters, was mentioned, with the first requesting intervention and the second expressing disagreement with Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil’s denial of the “unilateral” water release. Her earlier announcement of severing ties with DVC was reiterated.
It was reported that two senior officials from DVC—Shantanu Basu, power secretary, and Uttam Ray, chief engineer of irrigation and waterways—resigned from their posts in protest against what was described as “unplanned and uncalibrated” water releases. Banerjee announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the 28 people who had died in the floods.
The Chief Minister was also quoted giving instructions to MPs and MLAs to allocate funds for rural road repairs after the water receded. It was further indicated that all administrative meetings were postponed until after the Chhath festival to focus on flood relief efforts.