MillenniumPost
Bengal

Mamata directs steps for proper distribution of relief materials

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directed all ministers during the Cabinet meeting at Nabanna on Wednesday to take necessary steps in ensuring proper distribution of relief materials among flood-affected people in their respective areas.
Sources said that discussion related to the flood situation has come up when ministers gathered to attend the Cabinet meeting in the state Secretariat. It is learnt that the Chief Minister has asked them to be with the people in their respective areas as they are facing huge problems due to the man-made floods.
Banerjee went to North Bengal on Monday and took a stock of the situation. It may be mentioned that the state government had been providing relief materials including tarpaulin, dry food and clothes to flood-affected people. The state government has also ensured proper distribution of paddy seeds among farmers who incurred huge losses as crops were damaged due to the floods in 11 districts.
It is learnt that total "money value loss" in the agriculture sector in the state due to the floods amounted to around Rs 6,500 crore. In North Bengal, till now, the money value loss stands at around Rs 3,812 crore.
In North and South Bengal, the area of agricultural land that has been affected due to floods was around 4.36 lakh hectare and 4.23 lakh hectare respectively. In North Bengal, the situation had turned worse due to heavy rainfall from August 12 to 15 while in South Bengal it took place from July 21 to 26. The farmers in the state have been supported by the state government. More importantly, around 25 lakh farmers have been brought under the coverage of crop insurance policy and in Bengal, the state government pays the premium of the policies to support the farmers. Top brass of the state government is keeping a close eye on the flood situation in North Bengal and there have been constant monitoring from the state Secretariat.
The concerned officials had been maintaining a record of the situation in each and every area in North Bengal that are still heavily inundated.
The state Transport department has also taken necessary steps to ensure plying of buses from different locations in North Bengal to Kolkata and vice versa.
North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) is operating buses from Cooch Behar, Siliguri, Raiganj, Buniadpur, Malda, Chanchal and Farakka to Kolkata. Around 21 buses left from Malda for Siliguri and three for Dalkhola.
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