Kolkata, May 19: The West Bengal government has decided to reappoint its representative to the Damodar Valley Regulatory Authority (DVRRA) ahead of the monsoon season. Previously, the government, led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, had withdrawn its representation from the committee.
In September 2024, Banerjee informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a letter about the state’s withdrawal from the DVRRA. She accused the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) of releasing water from dams without prior notice to the state government, resulting in flooding in several areas of South Bengal.
At that time, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Central Ministry of Jal Shakti criticized this decision. The ministry stated that decisions regarding water release from reservoirs are made after discussions in DVRRA meetings, which include state government representatives. Therefore, the accusation of releasing water without notice was deemed baseless.
According to a source from the Nabanna Secretariat, “Now that both the central and West Bengal governments are led by the same party, the era of confrontation with the DVC has ended. This is why the state government has decided to send its representative to the DVRRA before the monsoon. A formal announcement will be made soon.”
The source also mentioned that the Chief Minister’s office has directed the state’s electricity and irrigation departments to coordinate with the DVC.
During her tenure as Chief Minister from 2011 to 2026, Mamata Banerjee consistently claimed that significant decisions, such as releasing floodwaters, were made unilaterally by the Central Water Commission and the Ministry of Jal Shakti without the state’s consent.
She had repeatedly stated that the DVC ignored the state’s requests and suggestions, releasing water from its reservoirs without prior notice.
However, the new government has opted for a collaborative approach with the DVC to prevent flooding in the state, moving away from confrontation.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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