The Mamata Banerjee government on Monday appointed four senior IAS officers as nodal officers to supervise and coordinate initiatives to control the spread of Covid-19 in four districts where the coronavirus had spread at an “alarmingly high rate” in the past few days.
The four districts are Calcutta, Howrah, North 24-Parganas and South 24-Parganas.
According to chief secretary Rajiva Sinha’s order, home secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay would monitor Calcutta, irrigation and PWD secretary Naveen Prakash South 24-Parganas, land and land reforms secretary Manoj Pant North 24-Parganas and MSME secretary Rajesh Pandey Howrah.
A senior official said that almost 85 per cent of positive cases were reported from these four districts.
“Despite several attempts by the government to contain the spread of the infection, the number of positive cases could not be brought down in these districts. This suggests loopholes in implementing administrative decisions. The senior officers will now monitor a synchronised battle against the spread of Covid-19,” said a senior government official.
A source said that primarily it was observed that district magistrates, focussing on activities on the ground, were not able to liaison with the government top brass. “There was a clear communication gap between field officials and the government top brass. These nodal officers can bridge this gap,” said the source.
Letter to Mamata
Opposition leaders in Bengal wrote to chief minister Mamata Banerjee about their growing concerns on the treatment of Covid and non-Covid patients in the state and irregularities related to Amphan relief, among 10 demands. The letter was signed by Abdul Mannan, the leader of the Opposition, and Sujan Chakraborty, the leader of the Left Front Legislative Party. “We sought her (the CM’s) intervention to ensure all patients get proper treatment in Bengal,” Mannan told newspersons.
He added that the Opposition also demanded FIRs against those accused of misappropriating Amphan relief materials.
“If no action is taken within 48 hours, we will sit in protest in front of the legislative assembly from Wednesday,” Mannan said. “Sujan and I might as well sit in protest in front of the CM’s room at Nabanna,” he added.
