No Dredging in Central Reservoirs: In a scathing attack on the central government, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Centre of long-term neglect in maintaining major dams and reservoirs across eastern India. She alleged that no dredging has been carried out for decades in these water bodies, resulting in worsening floods and environmental degradation in downstream Bengal.
Speaking at a review meeting in Darjeeling, Banerjee called for immediate intervention, warning that the unchecked sedimentation of dams has disrupted river systems and endangered both livelihoods and ecosystems. Her remarks have once again ignited the Centre–state debate over water management, flood control, and environmental accountability.
Neglect of Reservoirs: CM’s Sharp Rebuke
Mamata Banerjee directly named several central projects — including the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) reservoirs, Maithon, Panchet, Farakka Barrage, and port systems at Kolkata and Haldia — accusing authorities of failing to desilt and dredge them for nearly 20 years.
“For decades, the Centre has done no dredging in these dams and reservoirs. The silt has accumulated to dangerous levels. That is why Bengal suffers every monsoon,” Banerjee said during her address at the district administrative meeting.
The Chief Minister argued that the excessive siltation has drastically reduced the holding capacity of reservoirs, forcing authorities to release water suddenly during heavy rainfall — a move that often triggers devastating floods in large parts of South and North Bengal.
She further added that environmental experts like Meghnad Saha had cautioned against disrupting the natural flow of rivers and had advocated for a balance between development and ecology.
“If you play with nature, nature will strike back. Dredge the reservoirs or dismantle the dams if you cannot maintain them,” Banerjee warned.
Floods, Siltation, and River Health
The Chief Minister’s outburst stems from Bengal’s recurring flood disasters, particularly in districts like Hooghly, Howrah, Bankura, East and West Burdwan, Malda, and North Bengal. State irrigation officials have repeatedly highlighted that excess water releases from DVC dams — built primarily to control floods — end up inundating vast low-lying areas downstream.
Experts note that without periodic dredging, the storage capacity of reservoirs decreases due to the accumulation of silt and sediment. When these dams fill up faster than expected during monsoon, emergency water discharges lead to sudden floods that destroy crops, homes, and roads.
Environmental analyst Dr. Partha Dey, in an independent observation, stated that Bengal’s river systems are overburdened by silt and poorly coordinated reservoir operations.
“The Damodar, Barakar, and Ajay rivers carry high sediment loads. Without maintenance dredging, these reservoirs are becoming ineffective. Flood control now relies more on reactive measures than preventive planning,” he said.
Banerjee’s claims also underline a broader ecological concern — the degradation of river channels, which has reduced the depth of key waterways like the Hooghly and Kosi, further compounding flood risks in the deltaic region.
Concerns Over Himalayan Dams and Neighbouring States
Extending her criticism beyond Bengal, Mamata Banerjee raised concerns over hydropower projects in Sikkim and Bhutan, which she believes pose environmental threats to downstream regions. She referred to recent disasters in the Himalayas — such as the Teesta dam collapse in Sikkim — as warnings of over-exploitation of fragile ecosystems.
“There are too many hydro projects being built in Sikkim. If anything goes wrong there, Bengal will face the consequences. Water doesn’t respect borders — nature’s impact is shared,” she noted.
She also accused Bhutan of releasing water into Bengal’s Dooars region without proper coordination, which often submerges large areas during monsoons. The Chief Minister suggested that minerals like dolomite — often found in the silt deposits from these rivers — could be commercially reused to fund irrigation projects and rural development in flood-affected areas.
The Centre–State Divide: A Persistent Rift
Banerjee’s comments have reignited the long-standing conflict between the state and central authorities over flood management responsibilities. The Damodar Valley Corporation, established in 1948 as India’s first multipurpose river project, operates under the central government but also serves multiple states including West Bengal and Jharkhand.
While the DVC claims it follows a scientifically approved system for water release, the Bengal government has repeatedly accused it of “unplanned and reckless discharges” during heavy rains.
A senior irrigation department official in Kolkata pointed out that the state often receives barely an hour’s notice before DVC releases large volumes of water, leaving districts with little time to prepare or evacuate vulnerable populations.
“Coordination is crucial. We have sought joint monitoring committees and real-time data sharing. But the response from Delhi has been slow,” the official said.
The lack of timely dredging and maintenance has also been cited by local administrators as a reason behind the silting of riverbeds, which in turn affects navigation and irrigation systems.
Flood Damage and Economic Costs
The repeated floods have caused significant losses to Bengal’s economy. According to the state’s estimates, annual flood-related damage runs into thousands of crores of rupees, destroying agricultural output, displacing thousands of families, and damaging rural infrastructure.
In 2024, Bengal faced one of the worst floods in a decade, with more than 1.2 lakh hectares of farmland submerged and 25,000 homes damaged. The state government accused the DVC of releasing excess water without consultation, while the Centre maintained that releases were made according to reservoir guidelines.
Banerjee has frequently argued that “Bengal pays the price for central negligence”, demanding compensation and greater decision-making power in managing shared river systems.
Experts Call for Integrated Water Management
Water management experts suggest that both governments need to move beyond blame and adopt a comprehensive Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) model.
Professor Ratan Chakraborty, a hydrologist at Jadavpur University, emphasized that dredging alone will not solve Bengal’s flood crisis.
“Yes, desilting is necessary, but it must be combined with soil conservation, afforestation in catchment areas, and proper flood zoning. The focus should shift from post-disaster relief to pre-disaster planning,” he said.
He also pointed out that India’s major dams — including those on the Ganga and Damodar — were designed for different rainfall patterns than what climate change has now brought.
“We are witnessing erratic rainfall, glacial melt, and intense downpours. The design logic of old dams is no longer compatible with present conditions,” he added.
Experts also warn that continuous dredging of large reservoirs can have environmental side effects, such as disturbing aquatic habitats and altering sediment balance downstream. However, they agree that targeted dredging — especially near spillways and channels — is essential for the long-term health of water bodies.
No Dredging in Central Reservoirs for Decades: Ecological Warning and Call for Action
Banerjee’s speech reflects a broader environmental message: India’s approach to river management must evolve from short-term engineering solutions to sustainable, nature-based strategies.
She warned that ignoring the ecological balance could lead to a “revenge of nature,” citing examples of landslides, dam bursts, and flash floods that have become frequent in the Himalayan belt.
“We are seeing disasters everywhere — Uttarakhand, Himachal, Sikkim. Nature is giving us signals. We must act before it’s too late,” she said.
The Chief Minister reiterated her government’s commitment to protecting Bengal’s river systems, vowing to push for scientific studies, strengthen embankments, and engage local communities in disaster management.
Political Undercurrents Ahead of 2026 Elections
Analysts believe Banerjee’s statements also have a political undertone ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. By highlighting the Centre’s “inaction,” she seeks to project herself as a protector of Bengal’s interests against federal neglect.
Her environmental narrative — merging governance, ecology, and regional identity — has found resonance among rural voters who suffer the brunt of annual floods. Opposition leaders, however, accuse the state of diverting attention from its own irrigation failures.
Despite the political back-and-forth, the issue of dredging and flood management has emerged as one of Bengal’s most urgent challenges — one that demands coordination rather than confrontation.
The Way Forward
The crisis calls for immediate steps:
- Joint Centre-State Committee: A permanent body for monitoring water levels, sedimentation, and coordinated water release.
- Scientific Dredging Plans: Using modern technologies like hydrographic surveys and AI-based silt mapping to prioritize dredging areas.
- Community Involvement: Engaging panchayats, NGOs, and local farmers in river maintenance and flood warning systems.
- Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Re-evaluating dam safety and spillway design to match new rainfall patterns.
- Transparency and Data Sharing: Real-time water data must be made publicly accessible to ensure accountability.
Conclusion
Mamata Banerjee’s latest salvo against the Centre is more than political rhetoric — it brings to light India’s deep-seated challenges in maintaining its aging water infrastructure. The neglect of dredging, sedimentation build-up, and lack of coordination between agencies are symptoms of a system stretched thin between politics and practicality.
As Bengal continues to battle the dual threats of floods and climate change, the call for ecological accountability and proactive water management has never been louder. Whether the Centre heeds that call or not, the rivers of Bengal will continue to bear the testimony of decades of administrative inertia — and the rising tide of nature’s response.
External Reference Links:
- The Telegraph India – CM’s remarks on dam dredging
- Damodar Valley Corporation Official Site
- Central Water Commission – Reservoir Sedimentation Guidelines
- IIT Kharagpur – River Basin Research Centre
- National Disaster Management Authority – Flood Management Reports
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