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With five districts inundated and over 12,000 people affected, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday criticised the Jharkhand government and the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for creating "manmade flood" in her state.
"Jharkhand and DVC have released water without any information, without any consultation with us. They just release the water whenever they feel and people here suffer. It is a manmade flood. It is their negligence, it's a crime," said Banerjee after visiting the flood affected areas of West Midnapore district.
Banerjee has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing dismay over the release of water and accused the Jharkhand government as well as the DVC of failing to monitor the water levels.
"They do it every year. We have been urging them not to do it. If there is need to release, they should do it slowly after prior consultation. But their problem is they don't monitor. It is their duty to monitor and they have failed," said Banerjee.
According to the state government, seven blocks of West Midnapore district and some portions of East Mindapore district have been submerged while Purulia, Howrah and Hooghly districts have been affected by the flood.
The areas have also received heavy rainfall in the last few days due to the effect of Cyclone Phailin.
