Dams and flood management: A double-edged sword in south Bengal’s annual flood crisis
As the world focuses on the United Nations’ upcoming Conference of Parties (COP 29) which begins tomorrow, The Statesman looks at environmental issues closer home.
As the world focuses on the United Nations’ upcoming Conference of Parties (COP 29) which begins tomorrow, The Statesman looks at environmental issues closer home.
Rainfall caused by a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal last week led to an increase in water levels at the Maithon and Panchet reservoirs. After DVC released water from these reservoirs, vast areas in West Midnapore, Hooghly, Howrah, Bankura, East Midnapore, East Burdwan and West Burdwan were flooded.
Today chief minister Mamata Banerjee visited flood-affected districts of south Bengal, East Burdwan, Bankura and Birbhum on Tuesday.
Despite no or minimal rainfall in the six sub-basins of Damodar, the Damodar Valley Corporation has still released water today from its Maithon and Panchet dams.
The DVC has opened its floodgates after the midnight hours and had informed Bengal government through in WhatsApp, senior officials claimed amidst state's charges of giving 'no prior intimation of the discharge today.
Damodar Valley Corporation has entered into a loan agreement amounting Rs 10,050.42 crores with State Bank of India on 11 September for implementation of 2x800MW Koderma Thermal Power Project (Phase-II), in Jharkhand.
A contract labourer died while working at the coal handling unit of the Damodar Valley Corporation's Mejia Thermal Power Station here on Monday night.
With incessant rains continuing to batter different districts raising the spectre of widespread flooding, a concerned state government today talked tough to the chairman of the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) over its alleged unilateral practice of releasing water from the upstream dams without informing the state government.
During the meeting held at the DVC headquarters, the Minister also discussed the operational challenges and financial issues faced by the corporation.
Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) will supply additional power of 250 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) to Bokaro Steel Limited (BSL), a unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
