The East Midnapore administration on Tuesday announced “stringent cross-verification” for beneficiaries of the state’s disaster response fund in at least three blocks, Nandigram, Tamluk and Panskura, after reports that the homes of many people enlisted for compensation did not suffer damage.
The move was prompted after district leaders of the BJP and the CPM submitted deputations with the BDOs last week stating that the panchayats in these blocks were purposely drawing up faulty lists with “political intent”.
“If we receive formal complaints against specific persons, we will take strict action,” said district magistrate Partha Ghosh.
The district administration had initially assessed damages to 3 lakh homes in Cyclone Amphan, which following another survey was raised to 6 lakh homes.
The government announced a compensation of Rs 20,000 each to those whose homes had been damaged in the cyclone on May 20.
Last Thursday, The Telegraph had reported how a group of 50 villagers in Nandigram submitted a deputation with BDO Subrata Mullick alleging that their names were not being drawn up in the lists despite “dire need”.
On Tuesday, district officials issued a “stop payment” order to at least 52 bank branches in Tamluk to which at least Rs 2.4 crore in relief funds had been disbursed to over 1,000 beneficiaries.
In the rest 24 blocks and five municipalities of the district, the administration ordered payments after proper verification.
In Tamluk, a four-member verification panel comprising the BDO’s representative, a representative of the panchayat samiti president, the pradhan of the panchayat concerned and a member of the Opposition will scan the list before giving pay clearance.
In the first phase, Rs 1 crore had been allotted for 500 beneficiaries in Tamluk, and in the second, Rs 1.40 crore for 700 persons. A source said the block administration was compelled to take the “stop payment” measure in Tamluk this week after probe revealed most beneficiaries of the Rs 20,000 dole were owners of brick-and-mortar homes unaffected by the cyclone. Tamluk BDO Gobinda Das has been asked to immediately stop disbursing compensation.
Local Opposition leaders alleged fudging was rampant. “Shortly after Amphan, we were told 3 lakh people across 25 blocks in the district needed immediate relief. Later, the lists went up to 6 lakh, though we saw many people living on the streets,” said CPM district secretary Niranjan Sihi. “Many names on the lists were known Trinamul workers and their families. They are playing politics with an eye on 2021 polls,” Sihi added.
“We told block officials that we would make these lists public if they did not take immediate action,” said Nabarun Nayak, BJP district leader.
On Tuesday, the administration also retracted funds disbursed to finance officers of five municipalities in the district. Municipality sources said a glitch had occurred but block officials said the move was taken to “avoid malpractice”.
Funds will also be taken back from persons who had 'wrongly been paid”, a government source added.
