WB governor accuses Mamata govt of corruption in cyclone Amphan relief distribution

CM Banerjee had called an all-party meeting a few days ago to discuss the allegations

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee | Salil Bera West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee | Salil Bera

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar today lashed out at the Mamata Banerjee government, accusing it of rampant corruption in the cyclone relief distribution in the state. He also urged the state government to take action in this regard.

“Cyclone Amphan [in May] had caused devastation in the state and was more severe in East Medinipur, South and North 24 Parganas, as also in Kolkata,” Dhankhar said in a statement. “Worrisome reports are emanating from several quarters as also in the public domain, that relief distribution is not being done in a transparent and accountable manner.”

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had called an all-party meeting a few days ago and, surprisingly, created a group involving members from opposition parties to look into the allegation of corruption in relief distribution.

While Dhankhar said he appreciated Banerjee's move, he pointed out that the issue was not resolved yet.

“I cautioned that it can succeed only with effective support and cooperation of the government and its administration in all earnestness,.”

“Governor Dhankhar felt concerned about the serious allegations of corruption and nepotism as also politicisation of relief distribution emanating nearly from all over,” the statement further said.

Such ill-distribution of relief was creating massive law and order problems in certain areas, he added.

“This has raised a serious law and order scenario particularly in East Medinipur, South and North 24 Parganas. BDO Offices have been gheraoed and some representatives of the political party have been publicly thrashed,” said the governor.

Saying that the Union government has no role to play in the relief distribution, Dhankar said that the relief materials were being directed to ruling party workers.

“Relief distribution is a state function and has to be carried out by the officials concerned. Abandonment of such relief work in favour of political party workers is illegal and misconduct on the part of officials concerned,” he said.

Earlier, the governor had said that the officials responsible for this omission and commission be dealt as per law. “The undue benefit that has gone to the non-entitled beneficiaries, must be recovered and they be suitably dealt with according to law.”

The list of beneficiaries is being published in the office of the BDO. Given the number of beneficiaries, it would lead to dilution of lockdown protocol apart from causing huge inconvenience to the people of the area who will be unnecessarily called upon to travel from their village to the office of the BDO.

Governor Dhankhar said that panchayats have a pivotal role to play and it will be convenient and helpful to the people if the list of beneficiaries is published at the panchayat level. People in the villages can then know who are entitled to the relief measures, and the administration will also be able to find out about the unfair inclusions, or genuine exclusions in the list.s

He also urged the state government to ensure the relief reaches only the entitled beneficiaries quickly in a transparent manner through official channels.