Delhi sidestepped Bengal: Mamata .....'It is a standard practice to inform the state government in advance before calling the resident commissioner to any meeting'

Pranesh Sarkar, TT, 19.05.20, Calcutta: Mamata Banerjee on Monday expressed her displeasure after the resident commissioner of the state was called in to attend a meeting convened by the Union home ministry to discuss preparations to tackle cyclone Amphan without informing Nabanna.

“I don’t know whether it is unconstitutional, but it is definitely discourtesy. It is a standard practice to inform the state government in advance before calling the resident commissioner to any meeting,” the chief minister said while promising that her government would leave no stone unturned to help people during the cyclone.

Mamata said district authorities of East Midnapore, North 24-Parganas and South 24-Parganas had started evacuating people living in low lying areas in view of the cyclone Amphan making a landfall in the coastal part of the state on May 20 afternoon or evening.

“The district authorities are persuading people living in the low lying areas in the coastal districts to shift to cyclone shelters. We are working 24X7 to tackle the challenging situation,” she said at Nabanna.

The cyclone is likely to cross Bengal coast on May 20 afternoon or evening.

“But prior to that, moderate or heavy rainfall is likely to occur from May 19 in several districts, including Calcutta, Howrah, Hooghly and West Midnapore. The rainfall is likely to continue till May 21. All districts have been put on alert keeping in mind the bitter experience of Aila, which had devastated a large parts of South 24-Parganas in 2009,” said a senior government official.

The sources said the state administration was concerned over the possibility of Amphan making a landfall in the coastal part of South 24-Parganas.

“A large part of the district is yet to get rid of the damage done by Aila. Importantly, all damaged embankments are yet to be repaired. Another cyclone could spell a disaster in the areas,” said an official.

The sources also said all precautionary measures had been adopted, like stocking of food packets and water pouches for those who would have to evacuated. Moreover, high rise cranes have been asked to be removed from construction sites in the city and its outskirts as a precautionary measure.