West Bengal CM Banerjee accused DVC of ruining Vijayadashmi by releasing 65,000 cusecs of water without notice. She termed it a “manufactured disaster,” warning she would resist any attempt to endanger Bengal during Durga Puja festivities.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday strongly criticized the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), accusing it of “spoiling the festive spirit” of West Bengal by releasing an excessive volume of water from its dams without prior notice to the state government. The incident occurred on Thursday, coinciding with Vijayadashmi, the concluding day of Durga Puja festivities.
According to Banerjee, while Durga Puja symbolizes joy, harmony, and new beginnings, this year’s celebration ended on a tense note as DVC authorities released nearly 65,000 cusecs of water into the river system. The Chief Minister claimed this sudden discharge caused widespread panic, disrupted immersion ceremonies, and put millions of lives in potential danger.
“This reckless act is nothing short of an attempt to inflict misery during our sacred festivities,” she said in a strongly worded social media post on Friday afternoon. Calling the action “shameful and unacceptable,” Banerjee alleged that the unilateral decision by DVC amounted to a “manufactured disaster.”
“No Bisarjan of Bengal”
Banerjee drew a sharp comparison between the water release and the symbolic immersion (Bisarjan) that marks the end of Durga Puja. “By releasing water without intimation, the DVC has placed millions of lives in Bengal in immediate peril. This is not a natural calamity; it is a disaster manufactured by the DVC,” she wrote.
She went further to stress her political determination: “Let me be clear: I will not allow anyone to carry out a Bisarjan of Bengal. Every conspiracy against our people will be resisted with full force. Truth will prevail over deceit and good will triumph over evil.”
Her remarks sparked strong reactions across political circles and public forums, with many residents expressing concern about flood risks in areas already vulnerable during the monsoon season.
A Repeated Flashpoint
This is not the first time the Chief Minister has taken issue with DVC. In previous years, she has raised objections to what she describes as arbitrary releases of water from DVC dams, which often trigger flash floods in several districts of South Bengal.
In fact, in 2023, Banerjee had written directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention to prevent DVC from releasing large volumes of water without prior communication to the state government. At the time, she urged the Centre to ensure greater transparency and coordination to avoid avoidable disasters.
Despite her repeated complaints, the DVC has maintained that it always follows due process. According to DVC officials, all water release decisions are taken through the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC), a statutory body that includes representatives from the West Bengal government. Therefore, they argue, the claim that the state receives no prior intimation is “baseless.”
A senior DVC spokesperson reiterated in the past that the corporation is bound to release water when reservoir levels cross safety thresholds, especially during heavy rainfall. “Our releases are not arbitrary but based on real-time hydrological conditions and technical assessments. The West Bengal government is always represented in the committee discussions,” the spokesperson had said.
Political Undercurrent
The latest row adds yet another dimension to the tense relations between the West Bengal government and central institutions like the DVC, which operates under the Ministry of Power. Banerjee has often accused such agencies of acting with bias and ignoring state-level concerns.
Her use of emotive language on Vijayadashmi — one of Bengal’s most cherished cultural festivals — suggests that the issue is as much political as it is administrative. By framing the DVC’s action as a deliberate attempt to ruin celebrations, the Chief Minister has placed the controversy squarely in the realm of public sentiment.
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As the debate unfolds, experts warn that recurring disputes between state authorities and DVC over water management could have serious implications for flood control, agriculture, and the safety of millions living along riverbanks. Calls are growing for an institutional mechanism that ensures greater coordination between DVC and the state government, especially during festive seasons and high rainfall periods.
For now, Banerjee’s sharp words have ensured that the DVC-water release controversy will remain a prominent talking point in West Bengal’s political discourse in the weeks to come.
