Dams and flood management: A double-edged sword in south Bengal's annual flood crisis

In the lush but flood-prone lowlands of south Bengal, the sound of rushing water is an all-too-familiar harbinger of destruction.

- BISWABRATA GOSWAMI

With annual monsoons delivering torrential rains to the region, communities brace for floods that submerge farmlands, destroy homes and cut off access to vital resources. It is a ritual of survival, recovery, and loss, a cycle that devastates tens of thousands every year. At the centre of this crisis stands a controversial infrastructure—the dams built to manage water flow and prevent floods.

Dams, long seen as crucial tools in flood management, have come under increasing scrutiny in regions like south Bengal, where the effectiveness of this infrastructure is being hotly debated. While dams were designed to store excess water and prevent downstream flooding, their operations are now being questioned by state officials, experts, and the people who suffer when their rivers break free of control.

The role of dams in south Bengal's flood management: Help or hindrance? The river systems in south Bengal are a maze of natural waterways, vital to both the ecological balance and the livelihoods of millions of residents. Areas like Ghatal, Panskura, Udaynarayanpur, Amta-II and Khanakul are particularly vulnerable, as they lie at the confluence of several rivers that swell during the monsoon season. For generations, these rivers have brought both fertility and disaster, enriching the soil one year, and sweeping away crops and homes the next.

At the heart of the flood management infrastructure in the region is the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), which operates a network of dams designed to control water flow and mitigate flooding. These dams—including the Durgapur Barrage and the Kangsabati Barrage—store water during heavy rains and release it in a controlled manner, ideally preventing dangerous floods downstream. However, this system has been called into question by state leaders and environmentalists who argue that poor management, outdated infrastructure, and a lack of coordination have turned these dams into a double-edged sword.