The release of Central funds amounting to Rs. 44.8 crore as an advance for flood-affected Sikkim has sparked a political controversy in West Bengal. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the Centre for not extending similar assistance to districts in her state, including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Jalpaiguri, which were also affected by floods caused by the overflowing Teesta River originating in Sikkim.
Banerjee expressed her dismay on social media, emphasizing the need for equality and non-discrimination in central assistance for disaster management. She clarified her commitment to supporting Sikkim but raised concerns about the unequal treatment of West Bengal’s affected regions.
Sikkim’s Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang had earlier spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other Union ministers regarding the flood situation in the state. Shah approved the release of Rs. 44.8 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) as an advance for Sikkim’s relief efforts.
The Union Home Ministry also formed an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) to assess the damages in Sikkim. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra visited one of the worst-affected areas in Sikkim, Rangpo, to oversee relief efforts.
While Banerjee highlighted her administration’s efforts to provide assistance, Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP’s national information technology cell, criticized her government for its response to the disaster. He questioned why West Bengal officials had not visited affected areas in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and the Terai region even after over 60 hours since the flash flood occurred.
The flash floods have had devastating consequences, with a death toll of 55 reported as of Saturday evening. Many of the bodies were found in Bengal’s Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar districts, but it remains uncertain if any of the victims were residents of Bengal. The floodwaters also led to the destruction of an army camp in Sikkim and posed risks due to unexploded ordnance along the Teesta River’s banks.
The political tension over relief and assistance efforts comes at a time when both states are grappling with the aftermath of the natural disaster, highlighting the complexities of disaster response and political dynamics in the region.
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