Back from Delhi, Mamata says disaster management plan on Centre’s agenda

The devastation caused by cyclone Aila in West Bengal was discussed at the meeting of the Union Cabinet in New Delhi on Saturday. After her arrival here from the Capital, Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who attended the meeting, said an action plan for disaster management was on the anvil.

Speaking to the media at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Mamata said she discussed the state’s situation with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who assured all possible help from the Centre.

Earlier in the day, the newly sworn-in ministers of state (MoS) of the Trinamool Congress visited far-flung areas where Aila wreaked havoc last week.

As Sisir Adhikary, MoS Rural Development, Sougata Roy, MoS Urban Development, Mukul Roy, MoS Tourism, Sultan Ahmed, MoS Minority Development, and C M Jatua, MoS Information and Broadcasting Ministry, surveyed relief work in various districts, Dinesh Trivedi, MoS Health, coordinated their movement from Delhi.

The MPs alleged state government’s apathy in relief work, apart from political bias. “The state government has not yet released funds for the affected people. The local block development office is using its funds to help the people in distress. Five blocks in Hingalgunj and four in Hasnabad have been severely hit. There is no medicine, no doctor and no drinking water. We will send a detailed report to Mamata Banerjee on the current situation in these areas,” said Sougata Roy, who visited Hingalgunj and Hasnabad at the border of North and South 24 Parganas.

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