CM fresh look at disaster risk

Mamata Banerjee at Maniram village in Naxalbari

 Kinsuk Basu, TT, Siliguri, April 26: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is set to draw up a fresh risk assessment and relief strategy plan for Bengal, particularly for north Bengal, when she meets the administration top brass tomorrow.

The state government today declared compensation for the quake victims, including Rs 4 lakh for each of the families of the dead.

"There has been extensive damage across parts of Mirik, Kalimpong, Siliguri and adjoining areas. Several buildings, including colleges, office and private buildings have been affected," Mamata said after meeting some of the quake victims in the Siliguri district hospital.

"There has been damage even in the plains. Bridges and flyovers, I am told, have developed cracks in Calcutta. I will meet senior officials tomorrow on disaster management and relief."

The seismic profile of Bengal, as prepared by Bureau of Indian Standards, puts the eastern section of northern districts of Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar in zone 5, the highest of all seismic zones.

The remaining part of these two districts, along with Darjeeling, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and parts of Malda and the 24-Parganas (South and North) lie in zone 4.

"One of the key points of tomorrow's stock-taking session would be setting up of seismological stations and how to carry out seismic hazard assessments," said a senior official of the disaster management department.

"We don't have any detailed earthquake disaster management plan with provisions for alternative means of telecommunication," he said.

The first thing Mamata did on arriving at Bagdogra was to announce a relief package for the victims before rushing to meet the family of the Rikhban Khatun, a 52-year-old woman who had died in Naxalbari yesterday.

Mamata next went to meet the injured in Siliguri hospital before going to Mirik.

"The government has decided to pay Rs 4 lakh to the dead and Rs 2 lakh to those with over 60 per cent injuries," said S. Suresh Kumar, secretary of the department of disaster management.

"The government will pay Rs 1.01 lakh in the hills to those whose houses have been fully damaged and Rs 95,000 in the plains," he said.

Mamata today said she had briefed the Prime Minister about the extent of damage in Bengal. While speaking about the Centre, Mamata today was quick to add that she was not in favour of politics coming in the way of relief and rescue.

"We have information that 336 people from Bengal are stranded in Nepal. Thirty-one people out of these have returned. Several children are spending nights under the open skies," Mamata said.

"We have already got in touch with the ministry of external affairs and Bengal's resident commissioner in Delhi is keeping contact with the Centre."