"Bengal Is Being Drowned Deliberately," Says Chief Minister, Slams Centre Over Flood Mismanagement

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, September 19, 2024, East Medinipur : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the Centre during her visit to flood-hit areas in East Medinipur, including Panshkura, on Thursday. Angered by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) releasing fresh water despite the state's objections, she accused the central government of deliberately creating a flood crisis in Bengal to protect Jharkhand.

Traveling through waterlogged areas to meet affected residents, the Chief Minister expressed her frustration, alleging that the release of water from the Maithon-Panchet reservoirs was a planned effort to submerge Bengal. "This is a deliberate attempt to endanger the state, and the Centre is indifferent to our plight," Banerjee said. She called for mass protests against what she described as a "planned drowning" orchestrated by the Centre.

The Chief Minister directed the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police to ensure adequate relief for flood victims and to expedite evacuation efforts in the most affected areas. She assured residents that crop insurance would be provided to farmers whose crops have been destroyed by the floods, and that the government would compile a list of homes that had been damaged or destroyed.

During her visit to Panshkura, Mamata Banerjee personally spoke with local residents, urging them to move to safer locations as water levels continued to rise. She highlighted that over 4 lakh cusecs of water had already been released by the DVC, an unprecedented amount, and claimed that the state's objections to further releases were ignored.

"The DVC is responsible for this flood situation. Never before has so much water been released at once. They are trying to save Jharkhand by sinking Bengal," she said, pointing to the widespread flooding across several districts, including Howrah, Hooghly, the two Medinipurs, Jhargram, Purulia, and Burdwan.

In response to the worsening situation, Banerjee reiterated her orders to ensure that all affected individuals receive proper relief and support. She emphasized the importance of rapid action, stating, "I have instructed the District Magistrate to evacuate affected areas as quickly as possible."

As the situation continues to unfold, the Chief Minister’s strong criticism of the Centre and DVC has intensified political tensions, with her government holding the central authorities accountable for what they describe as preventable flooding.