Bengal flood situation improves, govt rejects talks with DVC

With less rains and discharge of water from different reservoirs, flood situation in six affected districts of West Bengal improved marginally today, while the state government rejected a move by the DVC for talks to end the ongoing controversy over water release.
"Barring some pockets in East Midnapore district, overall flood situation in the state has shown a little improvement. Water is fast receding in West Midnapore district providing relief to a large number of people affected there," state Disaster Management minister Javed Khan said.
Meanwhile, amid controversy over release of water by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), the state government today turned down the central agency's request for talks.

State secretariat sources said neither Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, nor the state Irrigation secretary T K Ghosh had taken any initiative to hold talks with the DVC.
Reacting to this, Khan said "Why will the state government talk to an agency, whose irresponsible act has caused floods in six districts and has left 17 people dead so far."
To a question on any possibility of the state government talking to DVC later if there were further requests, Khan said, "The Chief Minister will then decide.