The impasse between West Bengal and Jharkhand over the Massanjore dam in Dumka showed no signs of easing on Monday.
West Bengal’s irrigation Minister Soumen Mahapatra said that he has raised the issue with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and that Jharkhand will have to remove its logo from the dam.
Built in the 1950s over the Mayurakshi river in Jharkhand, the reservoir is maintained by West Bengal’s Irrigation Department and caters to Birbhum, Burdwan and Murshidabad districts.
However, a furore broke out last week over the decision to paint the reservoir in blue and white — the colours of the TMC government in West Bengal. On Thursday, members of BJP Yuva Morcha prevented workers from painting the dam. The Biswa Bangla logo of the West Bengal government was also allegedly removed by the locals.
A war of words has since ensued between leaders of the ruling parties of the neighbouring States. Dumka MLA and Jharkhand Minister Louise Marandi warned against painting the dam which is in Jharkhand. She also alleged that the West Bengal authorities removed the logo of the Jharkhand government.
A scheduled meeting between the officials of Birbhum district in West Bengal and Dumka on Monday was postponed.
Mr Mahapatra meanwhile said the authorities in Jharkhand will have to understand that the dam is maintained by West Bengal as per a 1955 tripartite agreement between the Centre, Bengal and Bihar governments when the dam was built. He added that officials of both States were trying to find a solution to the issue.