Weather improves in Bengal; govt writes to DVC

The weather improved in West Bengal today as no heavy rain was reported in most parts of the state.
The state government has also written to the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) not to release more than 10,000 cusecs of water.
"There was almost no rain in most parts of the state other than in the Asansol-Durgapur belt. This has helped in improving the situation a little," Irrigation Minister Rajib Banerjee told PTI.
The state government, he said, had yesterday written to the DVC authorities to limit the release of water from its Panchet and Maithon dams to 10,000 cusecs, but it did not pay heed.

"We sought cooperation from DVC, but it continued to release more than 10,000 cusecs. This will eventually worsen the situation as most of the rivers are full," the minister said.
State Chief Secretary Malay De spoke to his Jharkhand counterpart, forwarding the request of not to release more water from the dams in that state.

With the MeT warning of more rains in next 24 hours, the state irrigation department has tripled its preparation to counter any flood-like situation in the districts.
"We have actually tripled our preparations in the districts to counter any flood-like situation. We are keeping in store relief materials, including tarpaulins. The BDO offices have been turned into relief counters and we have cancelled leaves of all our officers," Banerjee said.

Low-lying areas of Labhpur in Birbhum district, Purulia, Ghatal in West Midnapore and Goghat, Arambagh in Hooghly district are still under water.
According to a senior official in the state agriculture department, around 25,000 hectares of agricultural land in Ghatal, Kharagpur and Midnapore areas of West Midnapore district were inundated after water from Taraseni, Galudi, Kangsabati and Rupnarayan barrages were released.
Arambagh subdivision of Hooghly district was the worst- affected with most low-lying areas of Goghat and Khanakul under water as the DVC released water from its barrage, he said.
Talking to PTI, state Agriculture Minister Purnendu Basu said loss of crops due to heavy rainfall in the state since Saturday evening was yet to estimated.

"I have toured West Midnapore and Hooghly districts and took stock of the situation. Most of the agricultural lands are under water, but it will be difficult to gauge the extent of damage because water is standing for only one and half days. Only after the water recedes will we be able to estimate the loss," he said.
Meanwhile, the state disaster management department has opened a special control room at the secretariat to keep a tab on the situation.
"From this control room, we will be in touch with all the districts in the state. Reports from different districts will be collected here following which necessary measures will be taken," a senior officer of the department said.