New Delhi, Oct 4 (PTI) Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil rejected West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s allegations of “unilateral and wilful" release of water by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) to flood parts of the state during Durga Puja, saying the actual discharge was less than half of what was claimed.

Paatil, citing information from the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC), said a total of 70,000 cusecs of water including 42,500 cusecs from Maithon reservoir and 27,500 cusecs from Panchet reservoir, was released.

“This is not 1,50,000 cusecs as has been tweeted by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal," he said.

Banerjee had earlier alleged that the DVC had released more than 1.5 lakh cusecs of water “to flood our West Bengal during festival times,"

See Full Page