Irrigation department officials are worried about weak and damaged embankments that could not be repaired or maintained following the non-disbursal of funds by the cash-strapped Bengal government amid the threat of Cyclone Sitrang that might hit coastal Bengal early next week.

After Cyclone Yaas had hit three coastal districts — South 24-Parganas, North 24-Parganas and East Midnapore — last year, the irrigation department asked its divisional officials to send detailed project reports on the stretch of embankments that needed extensive and permanent repairs.

“All divisions had sent their proposals and it was assessed that the total stretch of weak earthen embankments would be around 190km in the three coastal districts. However, not a single proposal has been mooted for the repair so far. If the intensity of Sitrang is heavy on the coast, we have to face the consequences,” said a senior irrigation department official.

A few officials have pointed out that they could not even complete the routine maintenance of the earthen embankments because of the absence of funds under the MGNREGA. The Centre had refused to release funds under the 100-day rural job scheme since March, alleging misappropriation of the cash in Bengal.

Cyclone Sitrang is likely to hit Bengal coasts between October 24 and 25, prompting the state government to take all necessary measures in seven southern districts with a focus on the coast.

Senior irrigation department officials in Calcutta also held a special meeting with their divisional engineers on Friday morning when the condition of the embankments was reviewed.

The officials, especially in the three coastal districts, have been asked to prepare a list of vulnerable points and arrange the required materials for repairing the embankments as soon as possible.

A section of irrigation department officials, however, fears whether they will be able to engage the contractors in preparedness as no payment has been made for the previous jobs.

“The contractors were not paid for their previous works. Around 70 per cent of the bills for the repair of embankments after Yaas has not been cleared,” said a senior engineer in the Sunderbans division.

“Around Rs 100 crore was spent for repairing damaged embankments after Yaas in South 24-Parganas and East Midnapore. Merely 30 per cent of it has been paid so far,” he added.

Senior officials at Nabanna, however, admitted that the state's exchequer was not in a position to grant crores of rupees for extensive work on embankments without funds from the Centre.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier written to the Union government for a master plan to save the Sunderbans and East Midnapore's Digha, which are often hit by cyclones.

“The extensive work that around 193km of earthen embankments in three coastal districts need can’t be done without help from the Union government,” said an official at Nabanna.

Partha Bhowmik, the state irrigation minister, said his department was busy planning how the impending cyclone could be combated. “We have asked our officials to take all necessary measures without any delay,” said Bhowmik.