As the devastating floods in West Bengal claimed 28 lives, the union govt highlighted that Rs 1,290 crore had already been released to the state under a dedicated national programme for flood management. In contrast, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the central authorities of mishandling the crisis. On October 6, she described the floods as “man-made,” blaming the release of water by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for exacerbating the disaster.
The DVC is a multipurpose river valley project spanning the Damodar River basin across West Bengal and Jharkhand. It comprises a network of dams, barrages, and both thermal and hydropower stations, designed to regulate the river’s flow for flood control, support agricultural irrigation, and generate electricity for residential and industrial needs.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has alleged that the Damodar Valley Corporation released water from the Maithan and Panchet reservoirs to prevent flooding in Jharkhand, which in turn worsened the flood situation in West Bengal. She claimed that water inflows from neighbouring states, Bihar, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, have significantly contributed to the disaster. Among the worst-affected areas are Dhupguri, Nagrakata, parts of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar, Matigara, Jorebunglow Sukhiapokhri, Mirik, and several regions of Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
When the people of Bengal are in distress, I feel their suffering as my own. The recent heavy rainfall and landslides have caused severe flooding across North Bengal, leading to the tragic loss of lives, livelihoods, and property. Dhupguri, Nagrakata, large parts of Jalpaiguri… pic.twitter.com/ND4dQzm2Ym
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) October 6, 2025
“North Bengal has been flooded with water from Bhutan and Sikkim. We saw 300 mm of rain over just 12 hours. Where is all this water supposed to go?” Banerjee said, adding, “We have been tolerating water from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. How much more can we handle?”
Mamata Banerjee has blamed the union government for the devastating floods across the state, claiming negligence and poor management by central agencies directly contributed to the crisis.
Banerjee stated that surging waters from Bhutan and Sikkim flowed into West Bengal through the Sankosh and Teesta rivers, flooding vast areas. Addressing the media on Monday, she said, “Had the Centre taken timely action, such as dredging the Ganga-Hooghly river at key points, ensuring de-siltation by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), and using dams and barrages responsibly, this disaster could have been avoided. Instead of investing in necessary public works in Bengal, funds have been misallocated, leaving large parts of North and South Bengal to suffer from a man-made flood.”
Centre refutes Mamata’s allegations, confirms Rs 1,290 crore released for West Bengal flood relief
In response, the union government strongly refuted Banerjee’s accusations. The Ministry of Jal Shakti announced on October 7, that Rs 1,290 crore had already been released to West Bengal under the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP), aimed specifically at addressing flood risks and related infrastructure needs.
"I had written to the Prime Minister urging the formation of an Indo-Bhutan River Commission, warning that without it, North Bengal would continue to bear the consequences. Yet, I have not received any response. The Centre provides no funds for flood management and has even… pic.twitter.com/SGR2WFRQps
— Ministry of Jal Shakti, DoWR, RD&GR, GoI (@DoWRRDGR_MoJS) October 6, 2025
The Union Ministry stated that the Indian government is actively collaborating with Bhutan to address issues such as river erosion, silt and debris buildup, and flash floods affecting West Bengal’s trans-border rivers. Several joint groups, including the Joint Group of Experts (JGE), Joint Technical Team (JTT), and Joint Experts Team (JET), which include officials from the West Bengal government, are currently operational. During the recent 11th JGE meeting held in Paro, Bhutan, eight additional rivers flowing from Bhutan into West Bengal, Hashimara Jhora, Jogikhola, Rokia, Dhawal Jhora, Gabur Basra, Gabur Jyoti, Pana, and Raidak (I & II) were identified for a joint study on erosion and sedimentation challenges, the ministry added.
