Cyclone Amphan: Unprecedented Devastation in West Bengal: 1,000 cr. Interim Relief for Damage of Over 100,000 cr.

[Sukla Sen]

[1,000 crore as "interim" relief announced by Modi, for a damage tentatively assessed to be of over Rs. 100,000 crore.

Governor, in his tweet - in Bengali, claims "most minimum" damage caused: <https://thefederal.com/states/east/west-bengal/centres-neglect-of-bengal-during-amphan-social-media-erupts-in-anger/>.

<<(22) Opposition Parties therefore urge the central government to immediately declare this as a national calamity and substantially help the states in facing the impact of this disaster," the resolution said (today).

The meeting of opposition parties called by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was attended by the leaders of the TMC, NCP, DMK and Left parties, among others.>>

(Ref.: <https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/22/22-opposition-parties-call-upon-centre-to-declare-cyclone-amphan-as-national-calamity-2146688.html>.)

A few glimpses of the "most minimum" damage suffered by West Bengal: <https://m.facebook.com/crisisresponse/237815837544437/post/242013907124630/>, <https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10223077604553676&id=1387786704>, <https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10223077598113515&id=1387786704>, <https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10223077797358496&id=1387786704>, <https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10223077794358421&id=1387786704>.

Apart from widespread destruction of assets and standing crops, in the coastal districts - in South 24 Parganas in particular, vast tracts of arable lands have been turned waste and sources of potable water destroyed being inundated by sea water on account of protective dykes having been breached.]

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/22/west-bengal-suffered-losses-of-over-rs-1-lakh-crore-due-to-amphan-mamata-2146681.html

West Bengal suffered losses of over Rs 1 lakh crore due to 'Amphan': Mamata

 

PTI | 

Published: 22nd May 2020 04:36 PM

  

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee (Photo | Twitter/ANI)

KOLKATA: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said West Bengal has suffered losses of more than Rs 1 lakh crore due to super cyclonic storm 'Amphan', which has killed 80 people and left thousands homeless in the state.

After conducting an aerial survey of some of the affected areas and attending a review meeting along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Basirhat in North 24 Parganas district, she said there is a need to work together at this hour of crisis.

"Most of the areas we surveyed were totally ravaged. I have briefed the prime minister in detail about the post-cyclone situation in the state," she told reporters at the airport after seeing off Modi.

The prime minister announced an advance interim assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for the state after the meeting.

"The prime minister has announced Rs 1,000 crore emergency fund. What's the package I don't know. I have told him that we will give him the details. It will take some time to assess the full overall situation but damage is of more than Rs 1 lakh crore," she said.

Banerjee said she "reminded the prime minister about Rs 53,000 crore the central government owes to the state for various social security schemes."

"If they (Centre) give some money to us, we can work," she said.

The chief minister said she showed Modi some photographs capturing the havoc caused by 'Amphan' in Kolkata.

Cyclone Amphan is the strongest to hit the region in nearly two decades.

It has battered several parts of the state, washing away bridges and swamping low-lying areas.

Seven districts badly hit are South 24 Paraganas, North 24 Paraganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Howrah, Hooghly and Kolkata.