Chief Minister of West Bengal blamed the CWC for unilaterally releasing water from Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) reservoirs, causing widespread flooding in south Bengal.
About Central Water Commission (CWC)
- Established in 1945, Central Water Commission (CWC) works as an advisory body to the Government of India on matters relating to water resources development and management.
- It is a Statutory Body.
- Headquarter of CWC: New Delhi
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti
- Functions of Central Water Commission (CWC)
- General responsibilities of initiating, coordinating and furthering (in consultation of the State Governments concerned) schemes for control.
- Conservation and utilisation of water resources throughout the country.
- For the purpose of Flood Control, Irrigation, Navigation, Drinking Water Supply and Water Power Development.
- CWC deals with only surface water.
- Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) deals with groundwater.
- CWC Chairman also serves as the Government of Indiaʼs Ex-Officio Secretary
- Work of the Commission is divided among 3 wings:
- Designs and Research (D&R) Wing
- River Management (RM) Wing
- Water Planning and Projects (WP&P) Wing
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Damodar River

- Known as the Sorrow of Bengal because of its ravaging floods in the plains of West Bengal
- It rises in Palamu hills of the Chota Nagpur plateau in the state of Jharkhand.
- Passes through two Indian States of Jharkhand and West Bengal.
- It flows in South-easterly direction and joins Hoogly River in West Bengal which then flows into Bay of Bengal.
- Dmodar’s Biggest Tributary is Barakar which joins it near Asansol in West Bengal.
About Damodar Valley Corporation
- Established in 1948 as the first multipurpose river valley project of independent India.
- It is a government organisation under the Ministry of Power.
- It constructed four dams in the state of Jharkhand, including Maithon Dam, Tilaiya Dam, and Konar Dam.
- It Operates Power Stations in the Damodar River areas in Jharkhand and the West Bengal
- Irrigation and canal system of DVC was handed over to the Government of West Bengal in 1964.
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