The officials also revealed that the state government has to make heavy cuts from the budgetary allocations of various departments to meet the challenge of being always ready with the funds. ``Our initial queries about the promised money elicited no response,'' disclosed Dasgupta who is likely to discuss the issue with the Deputy Planning Commissioner Jaswant Singh tomorrow.

The West Bengal Government has a reason to be worried. The conditions after the flood took turn for worse with North Bengal heading for a virtual gastroenteritis outbreak. Malda, one of the worst-affected districts in the North Bengal, is fighting a grim battle against spreading gastroenteritis which hasalready left over 312 dead. This puts the total and combine toll during and after the flood to 524 in the flood-hit areas, said Dasgupta.

However, the finance minister reveals, the latest survey revealed that all gastroenteritis cases are not entirely flood related. ``Many appeared to have got it by consuming foods in an unhygienic conditions,'' Dasgupta said, adding that ``the administration has already pulled in all its resources to wipe out the menace to start with the rehabilitation operation in the flood affected areas.''

The administration has decided to dispatch a team of 16 doctors immediately to help the gastro-struck Malda. Dasgupta said another medical team will join this soon.

Saying that the state government has decided to round off the relief operations, including house-building as soon as possible, Dasgupta said the Agriculture, Irrigation and concerned Public Works Departments of the affected districts are told to prepare and finalise the lists of damaged roads and irrigation facilitiesby the third week of this month.