DVC Followed All Necessary Norms Before Water Release, Government Affirms Amid Flooding Claims

The central government has dismissed allegations by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, asserting that all protocols were adhered to during the water release from Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) dams. Banerjee had claimed that the discharge led to flooding in parts of West Bengal, describing it as a "man-made flood." The Union power ministry clarified that all relevant authorities were informed about the scheduled water release.

Representative image

Significant rainfall occurred in the lower Damodar valley area in West Bengal due to a deep depression over Gangetic West Bengal and Jharkhand from September 14-15. The upper valley in Jharkhand experienced heavy rainfall from September 15-16, but no further rain was recorded after September 17. Rivers such as Amta Channel and Mundeswari for River Damodar were overflowing, along with Silabati, Kangsabati, and Dwarakeshwar rivers.

Water Release Protocols and Coordination

The Union power ministry stated that all water releases followed advice from the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC). This committee includes representatives from the governments of West Bengal and Jharkhand, the Central Water Commission, and DVC. The ministry emphasised that every effort was made to prevent synchronisation of dam releases with drainage congestion in the lower valley.

The Tenughat Dam, managed by the Jharkhand government, released a substantial 85,000 cusecs of water, exacerbating the situation. However, Jharkhand refused to include this dam under DVRRC's jurisdiction. All decisions regarding water release from Maithon and Panchet dams were made in consultation with DVC and the West Bengal government.

Impact of Weather Conditions

The Jal Shakti ministry highlighted that all stakeholders were kept informed about expected weather conditions from September 14-16. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted heavy rainfall ranging from 71-100 mm across the Barakar-Damodar basin during this period. Despite having flood cushions, the unexpected rainfall on September 16-17 worsened the situation.

On September 17 at 04:30 hours, a warning was issued indicating that releases from Maithon and Panchet reservoirs might exceed 150,000 cusecs. A Red Flood Warning was subsequently issued at 05:25 hours. All flood warnings were coordinated closely with West Bengal and DVC officials, ensuring downstream stakeholders were informed within an hour of issuance.

Efforts to Manage Water Levels

DVC took measures to manage water levels by allowing the Panchet reservoir to exceed its land acquisition level. The maximum level reached was RL. 425.22 ft by 17:00 hours on September 17. Due to uncontrollable factors and dam safety considerations, combined peak releases from Maithon and Panchet dams reached 2.5 lakh cusecs between 08:00 and 18:00 hours on September 17. This was gradually reduced to 80,000 cusecs by 06:50 hours on September 19.

The central government maintains that all necessary precautions were taken to manage water release effectively while keeping all concerned parties informed throughout the process. The coordination between various agencies aimed to mitigate flooding risks while ensuring dam safety was not compromised.