Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, 25 September 2024, Hooghly: Hooghly MP Rachna Banerjee, while visiting the flood-affected region of Balagarh in Hooghly on Wednesday, expressed her concerns about the ongoing crisis caused by water discharge from the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC). Addressing the media, Banerjee said, “Quintals of water are being released, leaving people homeless. Houses are submerged, and residents have been forced onto the streets.” She added that while she does not have all the facts, “what is happening is not right.”
Banerjee’s remarks sparked a sharp response from the local BJP leadership. BJP General Secretary of Hooghly, Suresh Saw, mocked her for conflating the measurement of water with “quintals,” suggesting, “The Chief Minister should place the MP in a museum for making such statements.” Saw’s jab was part of a broader critique of the Trinamool Congress’s handling of the situation.
In her defense, Banerjee said the central government has not provided adequate support for crucial flood control projects, including the Ghatal Master Plan. She praised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her initiative in addressing the issue, adding that efforts are underway to explore solutions for erosion control in Balagarh.
Banerjee remained critical of the DVC but refrained from commenting further on the Chief Minister’s stance, saying, “I won’t say more about what our respected leader has already stated.”
The controversy over the “quintal” remark has continued to gain attention, with BJP leaders sarcastically referring to Banerjee as the “water queen.