Bengal irrigation minister Partha Bhowmik on Tuesday sought the Centre’s help to rein in the rivers descending from Bhutan and flowing through north Bengal.

“These rivers come down from Bhutan and cause flash floods in certain areas of our state during the monsoon. As Bhutan is involved in it, we believe the Centre should play a key role in addressing the issue. Even the Prime Minister should take it up with the neighbouring country and draw up plans to mitigate the damage caused by these rivers in north Bengal,” said Bhowmik.

Accompanied by senior officials of a number of state departments, Bhowmik reached the region on Monday according to the instruction of chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

The irrigation minister was sent to assess the damage caused by the recent flood in the region.

“If the central government doesn’t take immediate steps, a number of areas in the region will be under threat because of the rivers which originate from Bhutan. John Barla (the Alipurduar MP and the Union minister of state for minority affairs) and Manoj Tiggar (the BJP MLA of Madarihat and party’s chief whip in the Assembly) should talk to the Prime Minister. They cannot shun their responsibilities,” said Bhowmik.

Sources in the state irrigation department said it had been decided at a meeting held in Siliguri on Monday that some of the rivers’ beds would be dredged next year.

“This will increase the depth of rivers and more water can flow during the monsoon without flooding the banks,” a source said.

Bhowmik on Tuesday visited a number of flood-affected areas in Alipurduar district, including Jaigaon and Mechpara of Kalchini block and Shishamara of Alipurduar 1 block.

The minister also went to Dhupguri block of Jalpaiguri district where he inaugurated the renovation of an old canal. The canal, which had been built around 40 years ago, was used to channelise water from the Birubag stream.

The canal’s sluice gate stopped functioning because of a lack of maintenance.