AFTER AN impasse that lasted nearly 12 hours amid the flood situation in West Bengal, the TMC government in the state on Friday reopened the Bengal-Jharkhand border for goods transportation.
Sajal Ghosh, general secretary, Federation of West Bengal Truck Operators Association, claimed, “Without notice, such closing of borders is illegal. We warned the state government that if it did not roll back its decision, we would launch an indefinite strike. The state government reopened the border at 6 pm.” However, the state government did not immediately react on the matter. A home department official said, “We curbed vehicle movement because of the flood situation. The situation improved and we allowed goods transportation through the Bengal-Jharkhand border.”
Earlier on Friday, long queues of trucks —laden with goods—were seen along the areas bordering Jharkhand in three West Bengal districts as the Bengal police had restricted vehicle movement in the wake of floods in some south Bengal districts. Bengal shares its border with Jharkhand in three districts – Paschim Medinipur, Purulia and Paschim Bardhaman. Several checkposts on the inter-state border had restricted vehicle movement, including stopping of trucks carrying goods.
The move came after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s directive on Thursday to curb vehicle movement between Bengal and Jharkhand.
On Thursday, during a visit to flood-affected areas, Banerjee claimed, “It is a totally planned flood. We were repeatedly told by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) not to release water but they are releasing water continuously. Even on Thursday morning, they released water and new areas went under water. In this situation, we have to think that we will cut off all communication with DVC. We will make a big movement against this (move by DVC).”
Later, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari targeted Banerjee over her remark. On Friday, Adhikari posted on X, “Out of the 4 dams operated by the DVC, the final releases are made from the Maithon and Panchet dams. All releases are made as advised by the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC) which has representatives from Govt of West Bengal, Govt of Jharkhand, Central Water Commission (Member Secretary) and from the DVC.”
Adhikari wrote, “Due to a deep depression over Gangetic West Bengal and subsequently over Jharkhand, significant rainfall occurred in the lower Damodar Valley area in West Bengal from 14/09/2024 to 15/09/2024 whereas the upper valley in Jharkhand experienced heavy rainfall from 15/09/2024 to 16/09/2024. Due to the above-mentioned uncontrollable factors and from dam safety point of view, peak releases were made from Maithon & Panchet dams after consultation between DVC and Government of West Bengal. All protocols regarding prior intimation to all concerned authorities regarding the scheduled flood releases were followed by DVC.”
He added, “Mamata Banerjee is making false accusations only to hide the inefficiencies of her government regarding lack of pre-monsoon preparedness and failure to boost infrastructure to tackle the annual phenomenon. The coffers of the state govt are empty and the funds meant for averting floods are either being diverted unethically or being looted by her party colleagues.”
In a separate post on X, Adhikari wrote, “Mamata Banerjee has announced that she will sever all ties with DVC. Did she even understand the consequences before shooting off the mouth? Annexed herewith is an illustration of the Power Generation Capacity of the DVC. Out of the 9 plants; 4 are located in West Bengal – Mejia Thermal Power Station – 2340 MW capacity 2) Durgapur Steel Thermal Power Station – 1000 MW capacity 3) Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station – 1200 MW capacity 4) Maithon Hydel Station – 63 MW capacity The cumulative power generation capacity of the DVC in West Bengal is 4306 MW; a staggering 69% of 6687 MW, which is the total power generation capacity of the DVC.”
He added, “Other than that, the Solar PV Project of the DVC generates an additional 2.65 MW of electricity in West Bengal. A large number of workers are associated as government/private employees in organized & unorganized sectors in the 8 hydro, thermal and solar plants of DVC located in West Bengal. Does Mamata Banerjee feel that West Bengal is a separate country? How can she even utter these words? How does she plan to generate/substitute the 4300 MW shortage if she snaps ties with DVC? Or is she planning to take Bengal back to the dark ages? How many power plants have Mamata Banerjee built in West Bengal after 2011? I would request her to think twice before speaking nonsense, in the interest of the people of WB.”
All checkposts, such as Duburdih in Paschim Bardhaman, Bhalagora and Balarampur of Purulia, had halted vehicle movement from Thursday evening.
On Thursday, CM Banerjee said, “As water level increased and water entered NH16 at Panskura, all vehicle movement between West Bengal and Jharkhand will be stopped for three days.” A senior Bengal police officer said on Friday, “As per the CM’s directive, we had curbed vehicle movement as some roads are waterlogged.”
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