DVC Water Release: Bengal Flooded as Mamata Demands Central Accountability.

July 16, 2025 | Kolkata, West Bengal

DVC Water Release Sparks Flood Crisis in Bengal

Rising Waters and Rising Tensions: DVC Water Release Causes Floods

On July 16, 2025, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held an emergency press briefing in Kolkata. She revealed that the DVC water release from Jharkhand’s Maithon and Panchet dams had caused widespread flooding across multiple Bengal districts.

Since June 18, the Damodar Valley Corporation released over 27,000 lakh cubic metres of water. Most of it entered low-lying areas of East Burdwan, Hooghly, and Howrah, displacing thousands and damaging farmland.

DVC Water Release Ignored State Warnings

Banerjee expressed strong frustration over the unilateral discharge. She stated the DVC acted without proper coordination with Bengal’s irrigation department. The state, she said, had already warned of impending flood risk due to sediment-clogged dams and narrow drainage paths.

She blamed the Centre for ignoring repeated requests to desilt the Maithon and Panchet reservoirs. Banerjee also alleged that DVC prioritised its own safety by offloading excess water without downstream consultation.

DVC Water Release Triggers Relief Operations

Following the release, the Bengal government deployed emergency relief camps across 10 districts. These camps provided shelter, medical support, and food supplies. The administration also activated mobile health units and stocked antivenom in snake-prone areas.

Additionally, the Chief Minister ordered a full audit of embankments and barrages. She instructed engineers to remain on duty 24/7 until water levels receded completely.

Mamata Accuses Centre of Neglect

Banerjee accused the central government of failing to assist Bengal during monsoon disasters. She pointed out that despite flooding in Assam, that state regularly received central funds. In contrast, Bengal’s requests remained unanswered.

She also called for the inclusion of Bengal in inter-state river coordination bodies like the Indo-Bhutan Water Commission. According to Banerjee, water-related decisions must involve every downstream state, not just those where dams are located.

CM Demands Long-Term Flood Reform

Beyond immediate relief, Mamata urged the Centre to launch a long-term water management reform. She suggested real-time flood alerts, automatic monitoring systems, and dredging drives for DVC-linked dams.

Furthermore, she insisted that the DVC be held accountable through new policy mandates that involve downstream consultations before every major water release.

DVC Water Release Exposes System Gaps

The DVC water release exposed major governance gaps in India’s flood management system. While the DVC responded to rising reservoir levels in Jharkhand, it neglected to warn Bengal or plan a controlled discharge.

Without cooperative planning and central oversight, such artificial disasters may continue each monsoon. The Centre must now act fast — through infrastructure reform, clear accountability, and equal assistance to all states, including West Bengal.

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