Sabina Yeasmin, the minister of state for irrigation, on Tuesday questions at the BJP lawmakers of north Bengal on Tuesday as to why they are not raising the demand for funds and initiatives for flood control measures and other protection works in riverbanks of the region.

“BJP has won six of eight seats in north Bengal. We have accepted peoples’ verdict and now want them to act. At a time when the Teesta and some other rivers are causing extensive damage in the region by flooding localities and eroding chunks of land, they should be vocal and demand funds and effective initiatives to prevent such damages. They can’t afford to be silent,” said Yeasmin.

She reached Jalpaiguri today, a day after chief minister Mamata Banerjee had passed an alert to the ministers and officials to take proactive steps to curb the damage caused by the swollen rivers in north Bengal during the ongoing monsoon season, to check out the damages caused by the rivers so far.

During her visit, the minister of state went to Mainaguri and Kranti blocks where the Teesta has flooded villages, damaged houses and has also eroded away land.

“Due to heavy rainfall in Sikkim and Bhutan, a flood-like situation develops in north Bengal. This time, the swollen rivers have damaged river banks and embankments in at least 100 locations of Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar districts and also in Siliguri subdivision,” Yeasmin added. She mentioned that the state irrigation department has taken up protection works on an emergency basis to prevent the rivers from further damaging the areas which are in the banks.

Manoj Tigga, the BJP MP of Alipurduar, reacted to the minister’s statement.

“It would be wrong to say that we are silent. The government has been just formed and we have already started taking it up with appropriate ministries. When needed, we will also put our point at the Parliament,” said Tigga.