Mamata Banerjee on Friday said her government had released a sum of Rs 6,250 crore to give relief to the people afflicted by Cyclone Amphan and start restoration works in areas devastated by the calamity.
“The cyclone had hit the state on May 20 and within four-and-a-half days, when we got to work, we released a sum of Rs 6,250 crore to take up relief and restoration works,” the chief minister said during a video conference with administrative officials of nine districts from Nabanna on Friday.
Mamata said the death toll from the cyclone had reached 98 and 6 crore people were affected.
The chief minister rolled out a list of restoration works already completed by the state government during Friday’s meeting in which she took stock of distribution of relief in South 24-Parganas, North 24-Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, East Burdwan, Hooghly, Nadia, Jhargram and Howrah.
The Telegraph lists what the chief minister said regarding the release of funds and restoration works already undertaken by the state government in different sectors.
Dwelling units: A sum of Rs 20,000 each was released on Friday to undertake repairs of 5 lakh damaged homes. The owners of the damaged houses were given Rs 28,000 each as advance wage under the 100-day work scheme.
The chief minister said owners of another 5 lakh damaged dwellings would be given same amount in two-three days.
Farmers: A sum of Rs 300 crore was released to give one-time assistance to nearly 20 lakh affected farmers whose agricultural plots were under saline water or whose produces were damaged in the cyclone. On an average, a farmer would get Rs 1,500 and the assistance is over and above the Krishak Bandhu scheme under which he can avail himself of Rs 5,000 annually.
Betel leaf farms: A sum of Rs 5,000 as material cost and Rs 15,000 as wages under the 100-day job scheme would be given to owners of one lakh betel leaf farms which were damaged in the cyclone. For this, a sum of Rs 200 crore was released on Friday.
Tubewells: The government released Rs 250 crore for installation of tubewells in the affected areas where availability of drinking water remained a problem. “A total of 25,000 tubewells would either be installed or repaired. The funds have already been sent to the respective BDOs in the affected areas,” said an official. The chief minister said installation of tubewells would start from June 1.
Embankments: A sum of Rs 200 crore was released for the repair of damaged embankments primarily in the coastal areas of South 24-Paragans and North 24-Paragans. Mamata said 400 breaches on embankments were already repaired.
District/state roads: The PWD was allotted Rs 100 crore to repair damaged district and state roads. The chief minister said all district roads and state roads, which were blocked in many areas because of fallen trees, had been cleared.
School buildings: The school education department has been given Rs 100 crore for repairing over 1 lakh school buildings.
Rural roads: The public works department was provided with Rs 100 crore to undertake repairs on 4,000km of rural roads.
Electricity: The power sector, one of the worst-hit areas, was granted Rs 500 crore. Mamata said the WBSEDCL had already repaired 273 damaged sub-stations and restored 70 lakh out of 88 lakh connections which were snapped.
Poultry and cattle: The animal resources development department was given Rs 100 crore after 9 lakh cattle had been reported to be killed during the cyclone. Sources said financial assistance could be given to the affected.
Fisheries: The fisheries department was allotted Rs 100 crore to help fishermen and undertake affected waterbodies. Character of lakhs of waterbodies changed overnight as saline water gushed in and fishes of sweet water died.
Horticulture: A sum of Rs 100 crore was released to help farmers of the sector who incurred a huge loss.
