West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has slammed the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for suddenly releasing 65,000 cusecs of water without warning the state. She claims this move was meant to spoil the joy of Durga Puja celebrations and put millions at risk.
In a fiery post on X (formerly Twitter), Banerjee highlighted how Bijoya Dashami—the final day of Durga Puja—should bring cheer and hope. Instead, she said, the DVC’s “reckless act” turned it into a nightmare. “This is not a natural calamity; it’s a disaster manufactured by the DVC,” she wrote. She vowed to fight back hard against what she calls a conspiracy, adding, “I will not allow anyone to carry out a Bisarjan of Bengal. Every conspiracy against our people will be resisted with full force.”
Banerjee has long criticized the DVC, a central government agency, for poor flood management that hits South Bengal hard. She pointed to this year’s water discharge as 11 times higher than in 2024 and a whopping 30 times more than 2023. “There’s a systematic attempt to trigger more flood-like situations across South Bengal,” she said in another post. “This is a man-made catastrophe, and the DVC is becoming more anti-Bengal.”
The accusations come amid vibrant Durga Puja festivities in Kolkata and beyond. On Thursday, women marked Maha Dashami (also known as Vijayadashami) with Sindoor Khela at places like the Mudiali Club. This playful ritual involves applying vermilion (sindoor) to each other and idols, symbolizing joy and family well-being—though it also brings a touch of sadness as the goddess Durga “returns home.”
Local resident Anuradha Malhotra shared her mixed feelings: “Today is a very happy yet sad day. We play with sindoor and pray for our well-being, but it’s sad because Maa goes back today. Durga Puja is a joyous occasion for us Bengalis.” Another participant, Gayatri, echoed that: “Sindoor is valuable during Durga Puja—we pray for our family’s health, even as we feel sad about Maa leaving.”
Even foreigners joined the fun. Eleanora, visiting for her second Durga Puja in India, raved, “We’ve seen gorgeous pandals, and it’s a really special feeling. We’ve been enjoying a lot of traditional food.”
As flooding threats loom in South Bengal due to DVC water releases, the state gears up to protect its people while wrapping up one of India’s biggest festivals.
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