Shah reviews prep, Mamata questions fund allocation
KOLKATA/HYDERABAD/BHUVANESHWAR: The ongoing tussle between West Bengal and the Centre continued on Monday after chief minister Mamata Banerjee accused the NDA government of allocating less funds to the state following a video conference with home minister Amit Shah to review preparedness for Cyclone Yaas.
In the meeting with the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Bengal and the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shah directed the states to make adequate power back-up arrangements in all Covid-19 hospitals, labs, vaccine cold chains and other medical facilities, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Banerjee, meanwhile, said at least 20 districts in West Bengal, including Kalimpong and Darjeeling in the north, could be affected by the cyclone even though three coastal districts – South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore – along with Kolkata will be directly hit. “They (the Centre) have announced an advance fund of ₹600 crore each to Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and a little more than ₹400 for West Bengal. I have questioned why Bengal was being deprived despite being a larger state with dense population. I asked Shah why this discrimination. He said that he would talk later and that allocation was based on scientific views,” Banerjee said.
The severe cyclone is expected to cross the OdishaWest Bengal coast, close to Balasore in Odisha, around Wednesday noon with wind speeds of 140-165 kmph gusting up to 185 kmph. On Monday, West Bengal and Odisha started evacuation of people living in coastal areas to cyclone shelters and government buildings. The evacuation is to be completed by Tuesday afternoon.
“Evacuation has already started and we plan to evacuate at least 10 lakh people. Around 4,000 cyclone and relief shelters have been set up. At least 51 rescue teams have been deployed. A 24x7 control room has been set up at the state secretariat which would coordinate up to the block level,” the chief minister said, adding that the army has been alerted. The chief minister urged people to wear masks even at relief centres as Covid is taking a heavy toll in the state.
The Odisha government on Monday started a massive evacuation exercise in the coastal districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur with Covid-appropriate behaviour in place. Special relief commissioner Pradip Jena said district collectors would complete the evacuation by May 25 afternoon. “Zero casualty is the motto,” he said.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy told Shah that the impact of the cyclone is expected in northcoastal Andhra Pradesh and a few other coastal districts. “The process of evacuation of people in the vulnerable areas had commenced in Srikakulam district... The process will be followed in other districts as well,” he said.