CM Suvendu announces joint state-DVC strategy to tackle floods
The Statesman | 1 June 2026
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari today said that the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) and state irrigation and other related departments will work together during the upcoming peak monsoon season to combat the flood like situation in the low lying areas in the lower Damodar basin.
Previous Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee used to blame the Damodar Valley Corporation since the past three years for creating a “man made flood” in the adjoining districts of South Bengal like East Burdwan, Bankura and Hooghly due to huge release of water from its dams and barrages located in Jharkhand.
Last year, even the two members of the state government, Chief Secretary and Irrigation Secretary had resigned after her protest alleging that the state was not consulted for release of water by the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulatory Committee (DVRRC), which comprises members of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), the Centre, and the state governments of Jharkhand and West Bengal.
Mamata Banerjee even blamed the DVC for lack of dredging in its dams, barrages and canals leading to lowering of water holding capabilities. The DVC and the Centre both had rejected her allegations saying that the state is informed much ahead.
This year already after the new BJP government was formed, the two state representatives joined the DVRRC panel which works under Central Water Commission. During the peak monsoon season, the DVC releases water from its Tilaiya, Panchet, Maithon Dams, all located near the West Benga-Jharkhand border and the Durgapur barrage in the state as it reaches the peak water holding capacity.
Today, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has said that the issue is sorted and the DVC and state irrigation team will work together and in fact work has already started and all measures will be undertaken to control such situation during the peak monsoon season. Already several strategic meetings have taken place, he said.