West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee holds meeting to address flood situation in North Bengal

DARJEELING: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a meeting on Sunday to address the flood situation in Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, South Dinajpur, North Dinajpur, Malda, and Murshidabad.

Speaking at a press conference in Siliguri, Chief Minister Mamata said, "Today I held an important meeting regarding the flood situation in Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, South Dinajpur, North Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad... Everyone is requested to vacate dilapidated houses and also stay away from electric wires... Instructions have been given to rebuild the six shops in Vidhan Market, which have been completely damaged due to the flood. Disaster Management will give Rs 1 lakh each to these six shops. Shops that have suffered less damage will be given Rs 50,000."

Chief Minister Banerjee also said that all district magistrates, district councils, panchayats, and municipal corporations have been alerted in view of the possibility of impending floods.

"All DMs, District Councils, Panchayats, and Municipal Corporations have been alerted. DPRs have been prepared," she said.

Earlier today, Chief Minister Mamata launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Central government over the flood situation in the state, accusing them of neglecting it and doing nothing to alleviate the problem.

Speaking to reporters before departing for north Bengal to assess the flood situation there, CM Mamata stated, "Nothing has been done; the entire north Bengal is submerged. Everyone makes grand promises during elections and then disappears."

Giving details about the rescue effort in the flood-hit areas, Chief Minister Banerjee said that everyone has been taken to safe places and rescue and assistance work is going on by police and state administration.

"Chief Secretary has also been sent to North Bengal. All the people were taken to safe places last night. Rescue and assistance work is going on by the police and the state administration. I will hold a meeting after reaching there and then will give an update on further information," CM Banerjee said.

Earlier, West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari blamed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the flood situation in the state.

"Mamata Banerjee is responsible for this... This is TMC's failure; TMC should be accountable to the people of Ghatal... The state government has no role here; Mamata Banerjee herself came here, but what happened? There is no rice in people's homes, no tarpaulin, no food for children. The government has completely failed here," Adhikari said.

CM Mamata had accused the BJP-led Central government earlier too, calling them as the "main reason" behind flooding in the state.

"In Jharkhand, as soon as it rains, we become worried because they release water to save themselves, which affects the entire Bengal region. The Ganga Action Plan, flood control, and DVC are all under the central government's control, but due to their inaction, lakhs of homes are getting flooded," she said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the floods had affected five million people and urging the central government to release emergency funds to support recovery efforts.

"The floods have led to significant loss of crops, damage to public infrastructure, and destruction of homes and livestock," she wrote, adding the state government is working hard to provide relief, with operations underway to evacuate people to safer shelters.

Chief Minister Banerjee urged Prime Minister Modi to seriously consider her concerns and requested the release of funds for flood management efforts to help the affected population.

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