This was announced at a press conference by state Finance Minister Ashim Dasgupta here. The Minister also revealed that crops, cattle and other property worth about Rs 2086 crore had been lost in the devastating floods.

To a question on the hike of diesel price by 35 per cent by the Central Government, the Minister fumed that it would affect the general people severely. ``Why did they announce the hike now? They could have waited for the next government to come. It is the worst gift to be presented to the people of India on the eve of the festival season,'' Dasgupta remarked. He also said that Chief Minister Jyoti Basu would take up the matter with the Central Government and request them to withdraw it.