The Damodar Valley Corporation today released 45,000 cusecs of water from the Durgapur Barrage and was expected to release another 11,000 cusecs by tonight, but it would not pose danger of floods in any south Bengal district.

Kolkata, June 21 (PTI) The Damodar Valley Corporation today released 45,000 cusecs of water from the Durgapur Barrage and was expected to release another 11,000 cusecs by tonight, but it would not pose danger of floods in any south Bengal district.

Burdwan District Magistrate Onkar Singh Meena said that there was absorption capacity upto 60,000 cusecs and there was no danger of floods.

If there was heavy rain and the discharge crossed one lakh cusecs it could lead to floods in the districts of Burdwan, Hooghly, Howrah and East and West Midnapore, he said.

In the district people had been asked to move away from low-lying areas of Khandgosh, Raina, Jamalpur and Galsi, villages near the river Damodar, he said.

In West Midnapore district, the release of water by the DVC has led to a rise in the water levels of the Kangsaboti, Keleghai, Kapaleswari and Chandia rivers, Additional District Magistrate, Subhanjan Das.

He said that a population of 1.63 lakh has been affected by the recent rains which damaged crops and houses, he said.

Clothes, eatables and tarpaulin sheets were being distributed to the affected people, he said.

There was some shortage of tarpaulins for which an SOS was sent to the state government and another 15,000 tarpaulins have arrived, he said.

District Magistrate S Gupta said that the water level in the rivers was not alarming because of the DVC discharge and there was an adequate quantity of food.

The Chief Minister also instructed the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) not to release water unless there was 'no other alternative.

Kolkata, Jun 19 : West Bengal Irrigation Minister Manas Bhunia met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee this evening and discussed the flood-like situation in five districts of the state.
The meeting between Mr Bhunia and Ms Banerjee took place at her residence and it lasted for about an hour.

According to reports , the Chief Minister directed Mr Bhunia and other ministers of her Cabinet to stay at their respective places to help the affected people and take all required measures to tackle the flood-like situation.
Ms Banerjee also urged Mr Bhunia to ensure evacuation of people from the low-lying areas if the water level of the rivers exceeded the danger mark.

The Chief Minister also instructed the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) not to release water unless there was 'no other alternative.' Incidentally, the DVC had sought permission from the Chief Minister for releasing atleast 12000 cusec of water.

A special control-room led by Commerce and Indusrties Minister Partha Chatterjee was set up in the State Secretariate to help assist the rescue and relief operations.

A number of rivers spread across Howrah, Hooghly, West Midnapore, South 24 parganas and North 24 Parganas districts were on spate following heavy rains for the last couple of days creating the flood-like situation and the Met Office forcast further rain in the coming two three days.

--UNI

Damaodar Valley Corporation (DVC) not to release water in order to control the flood-like situation in the state

Kolkata, June 19 (IANS) The West Bengal government Sunday asked Damaodar Valley Corporation (DVC) not to release water in order to control the flood-like situation in the state.
The decision came at a high level meeting held at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence, with Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee, Irrigation Minister Manas Bhunia, Disaster Management Minister Jawed Khan, and Development and Planning Minister Manish Gupta present.
‘It was decided that DVC will be asked not to release water without prior notification,’ Khan told IANS.
A control room has already been set up to look into the rehabilitation and relief camps for near about 6 lakh people in 10 districts who have been affected in the state, he said.
‘Relief material has already reached the affected areas. We are taking stock of the situation,’ Khan said.