DVC agrees to release additional water for boro cultivation
The Statesman | 11 January 2026
The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) has agreed to release an additional 21,000 acre-feet of water from its dams and barrages to support boro crop cultivation in five South Bengal districts, following a request by state panchayat minister and Durgapur East MLA Pradip Majumdar.
A total of two lakh acre-feet of water will be released this year for boro cultivation in East Burdwan, Hooghly, Bankura, West Burdwan and Howrah districts. The release will begin after 31 January and continue in phases until April.
Boro cultivation refers to growing rice in the dry, winter season (November-May) in flood-prone, low-lying areas, using stored water and supplemental irrigation.
Earlier this week, Mr Majumdar met senior DVC officials, during which the demand for additional water was accepted. He said that DVC would issue a formal notification on the matter shortly.
For the past few years, farmers have been repeatedly demanding additional water through irrigation canals for boro cultivation. This year, paddy is being cultivated over about 68,550 hectares in eight districts under the DVC irrigation canal system. East Burdwan district, known as the rice bowl of the state, accounts for around 37,000 hectares.
In Hooghly district, boro cultivation covers about 11,000 hectares, followed by Bankura with 11,900 hectares, Howrah with 2,800 hectares and West Burdwan with 1,650 hectares.
Last year, the total area under boro cultivation was around 58,000 hectares, indicating an increase of 10,550 hectares this year across South Bengal districts.
Farmers have stated that due to the expanded cultivation area, the existing irrigation water supply is inadequate. They fear that insufficient and untimely water release could adversely affect production.
Sources said that reliance on groundwater pumps significantly increases farming costs and also raises the risk of arsenic contamination. Rising diesel and fertiliser prices have further contributed to higher cultivation costs.
According to officials of the agriculture department, peak irrigation demand will continue until the end of April. If water supply is not enhanced before then, standing crops may suffer.
Farmers have urged the district administration to intervene and ensure the timely release of adequate water from the barrages so that boro cultivation can proceed smoothly.