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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