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WB govt deliberately caused floods: Mamata

Water entered the 18th century Kali temple at Kalighat and Banerjee's residence at Harish Chatterjee street, while waters of the rising Hooghly spilled over onto Strand road in the city hub.

Banerjee, who had a tough time removing government files to safety as her residence went under knee-deep water in the morning said, "The floods were not caused by the monsoons. It happened because the state government does not have a water-management policy."

Alleging that the floods were man-made, she said water was deliberately released in the night from barrages in the state-owned Mayurakshi, Tilpara and Massanjore projects without prior warning to enable people to move to safety.

Asked why the state government would do this her curt reply was, "You can investigate this."

According to Banerjee, a central team was likely to arrive in Calcutta on Thursday or on Friday to assess the situation.

Alleging the state government had not heeded warnings by the regional meteorological centres, she asked, "Why did the state government wait for nine days before sending a report to the Centre? When I first explained the situation to the prime minister, he told me that he had not received any information from the state government."

However, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) described her allegation as 'highly irresponsible' while state Congress chief Pranab Mukherjee disapproved Mamata making such a charge.

CPI-M politburo member Biman Bose said Banerjee should desist from making 'such baseless and irresponsible comments which are fraught with dangerous consequences'.

Bose said barrages had certain capacities to retain water. The discharge had been made only after sounding a red alert. "Banerjee finds a conspiracy in everything," the CPI-M leader said, adding that it was 'evident from Banerjee's views that her party is devoid of any policy and programme'.

State Congress president Pranab Mukherjee refused to subscribe to Mamata's allegations, and said, "It can't be called a man-made disaster."

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EARLIER REPORTS:
Flood toll rises to 516, waters enter Calcutta: PTI
Centre lacks will-power: Mukherjee
Flood toll rises to 450

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