November 11, 2019
State Govt’s efforts saved many lives: Mamata Banerjee
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today went on a tour of the cyclone-affected areas in the Sundarbans region. After the tour, she held an administrative meeting in Kakdwip on the relief and rehabilitation of the people.
She held a press conference after her meeting, in the course of which she gave a tally of the deaths and damages, and announced relief measures.
Excerpts:
Damages
* Seven people have died (in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur) and eight are missing
* About five to seven lakh people have been affected
* Two lakh mud houses have been destroyed; many such houses have been partly damaged
* 21 electric sub-stations have been destroyed, to repair which would take seven to 10 days
* Large-scale damage to croplands, cultivated paddy, betel leaf plants, leafy vegetable plants
Relief and rehabilitation by the State Government
* Rs 2 lakh for each of the families whose members have died
* Destroyed houses to be rebuilt under Bangla Awas Yojaja scheme
* Dams and built riverbanks and would be repaired
* The mangrove forests of the Sundarbans helped in lessening significantly the effect of the storm. More efforts would be made to conserve the mangrove forests and new mangrove plants would be planted.
* 471 relief camps have been set up; more would be set up if required
* 323 public kitchens have been opened
* 100% crop insurance would be ensured
* Men and women of working age would be employed under the 100 Days’ Work Scheme
* Special task force to be created for each of the affected districts under the respective district magistrates
* Relief and rehabilitation efforts to be monitored in 48-hour cycles
* Special ration for all affected – special nutritious biscuits, puffed rice (muri), crushed rice (chire), baby food, medicines, tents, etc.
Mamata Banerjee also said that had the 1.78 lakh people not been put up in cyclone shelters, there would have been many more deaths and injuries. She also mentioned the fact that constant announcements warning people of danger played an important part in saving lives. The Central Government too had praised this particular step, she said.
Last but not the least, the chief minister asked the district magistrates and other district officials to give more time to ensuring proper implementation of all the steps announced by the State Government and to maintain peace. Everyone must work with humility, she said.
