DVC releases 50000 Cusec from Panchet - impact in Burdwan tomorrow morning

Rainfall has been very scanty and poor till last week of July, delaying paddy transplantation in the district. Now, with heavy rainfall noticed for last one week, more so in upper catchment of River Damodar, DVC authorities has decided to release the excess water @ 50000 cu sec starting from midnight this day and will continue till the water level in dams is within the standard levels during the August season. We don't apprehend any floods with this level but river level will increase and might cause water logging in low lying areas. All concerned have been alerted. It has been ensured that all water releases from dams to be done in such a timings that its impact in the lower areas of Burdwan Sadar, Arambagh, Uluberia Sub divisions is felt during the day hours, not the night hours so as to avoid any damage.

• Reviewed the flood management with all departments of the Govt on 13th August and also issued instructions for precautionary measures. It is so unfortunate to allow drain of water from dams, which could have been used for Boro Irrigation later. But, technical protocol has to be followed by DVC. There are plans to increase the capacity of DVC dams and it is hoped that once this is done, more water resources could be used for useful purpose, instead of draining the excess water on its way to the sea.
• Paddy transplant is above 85 percent now in Burdwan district facilitated by DVC canal release from 25th July and good rains last fortnight. Minor irrigation facilities kept on standby in case of any shortfall of rains in September 2012. We hope to get bumper crop this year, like previous years.
• Food Officials will organise special camps for facilitating zero balance bank accounts to farmers to facilitate paddy procurement at minimum support price in next Kharif season starting from October 2012. Such camps to be held at court premises at all Sub divisions from first week of September 2012 and continue for whole September month. All banks agreed in a meeting to extend their cooperation to farmers.
• Additional go down space has been arranged by district authority to store 1.05 Lakhs MT rice in State Go downs in addition to more than 60000 MT available with FCI. Nine Permanent go downs of 45000 MT capacity to be constructed under RIDF funds sanctioned by NABARD.