Mamata to meet Modi on Wednesday, demand Rs.30,000 crore for flood relief

Kolkata, Aug 10  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said she will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 12 and demand central funds of Rs.30,000 crore for post-flood reconstruction work in the state.

Talking to media persons here on Monday before leaving for New Delhi, she said she will also demand compensation for flood-affected farmers during her meeting with Modi, even as the death toll in the calamity shot up to 120 with 23 deaths reported over the past three days.

The chief minister's visit follows the central government's clearance to the second phase of the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project that provides for the sharing of Rs.2,361.35 crore World Bank assistance among six states, including Bengal.

The project encompasses cyclone forecasting and warning systems, as also cyclone risk mitigation beside building up infrastructure for multi-hazard risk management.

Banerjee is also likely to seek funds as interim assistance under the National Calamity Relief Fund.

"The total loss of property in the floods is estimated to be about Rs.30,000 crore. During my meeting with the prime minister on Wednesday I will raise the demand for the funds and also appeal to him to wave farmers' loans," she said.

Banerjee, who reviewed the flood situation through a vide conference with top officials of flood-struck districts, said the death count has gone up to 120.

She announced that task forces were being established in all the affected districts for carrying out relief and restoration work smoothly.

Disaster management department sources said 2,473 relief camps were sheltering over five lakh people in inundated areas, while over 1.06 crore were affected. So far 824 medical camps have come up.