West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday regarding the severe floods in the state. She reiterated her demand to cut ties with the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) in Jharkhand, claiming that DVC released around 5 lakh cusecs of water, leading to flooding in South Bengal districts.

Banerjee also urged the Centre to urgently release funds to address the widespread destruction caused by the floods.

“I would like to draw your kind attention to the fact that as a result of an unprecedented, unplanned and unilateral release of an enormously huge volume of water at nearly 5 lakh cusec from the combined system of Maithon and Panchat dams owned and maintained by the DVC (Damodar Valley Corporation), all districts of South Bengal viz Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, Bankura, Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Medinipore and Padchim Medinipore have been plunged into devastating floods causing severe miseries to the common people,” Banerjee wrote in her letter.

Adding that West Bengal is facing its worst flood in the Lower Damodar region and surrounding areas since 2009, the chief minister reported that over 1,000 square kilometres have been affected, with nearly five million people “drawn into a vortex of misery” due to widespread crop losses, damage to public infrastructure, homes, and livestock.
Banerjee slammed the DVC for shifting its focus from flood control to power generation, which she claimed has harmed the interests of West Bengal. She also raised concerns about the lack of action on the Ghatal Master Plan, which has left the region vulnerable to flooding.

The CM warned that if the “unilateral approach continues”, her government will “disengage” entirely with the DVC. “We cannot allow this ongoing injustice to affect our people year after year,” she wrote in the letter.

On Thursday, Mamata Banerjee criticised the Jharkhand government and ordered the sealing of the interstate border for three days.

Bengal’s Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari hit back at Mamata Banerjee, saying, “If Mamata Banerjee cuts ties with the DVC, eight districts will lose power. Doesn’t she realise that DVC-run power plants supply electricity to a significant portion of South Bengal?”