At least 87 people were killed in Cyclone Amphan.
Kolkata:
The West Bengal government has sent a justification statement to five block development officers (BDOs) in four districts for alleged irregularities in the distribution of relief supplies and funds for Cyclone Amphan, a senior official said on Sunday.
Measures will also be taken against public officials in the panchayats if they are implicated in allegations of embezzlement intended mainly for the reconstruction of damaged houses as well as to farmers whose agricultural fields were damaged by the cyclone, a declared the manager.
“Strict action” will be taken against five BDOs stationed in the districts of South 24 Paraganas, North 24 Parganas, Hooghly and Howrah if their responses are deemed “unsatisfactory,” he said.
“There are several complaints alleging that the people who were genuinely affected by the cyclone did not obtain the benefits announced by the state government … There are also cases where people close to the representatives of the public in the panchayats or related have obtained funds for the reconstruction of houses, although their houses were not damaged nor any agricultural land “, declared the senior official of the IAS. The list of affected people had either an error in their name or a wrong bank account number as well as IFSC codes.
“Since the lists of affected persons intended to benefit from the advantages were drawn up at the suggestion of the committees constituted by the BDOs and the representatives of the panchayats (mainly the representatives of the public). They must therefore also bear responsibility for these faults. Everything will be reviewed, “he said.
The CM is examining the matter personally and is not at all happy that people have not received the benefits intended for them, said the senior official.
The CM had announced several plans to extend its financial support to residents of areas ravaged by Cyclone Amphan on May 20.
Financial aid has been announced for farmers, fishermen and for the reconstruction of houses damaged by the cyclone. At least 87 people were killed in Cyclone Amphan.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
