Raju Bista seeks from DM Kalimpong losses suffered in Teesta flash flood

YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG, 1 NOVEMBER 2023 : Darjeeling MP Raju Bista has written to District Magistrate of Kalimpong Balasubramaniam T., asking for an official list of losses suffered in the Teesta disaster.

The severe flood in river Teesta on October 4 has caused extensive loss of people's wealth in the Kalimpong district. Extensive damage has been caused to several houses and physical infrastructure. 

Almost a month after the disaster, the official list of the damage has not been released. So far neither the Gorkhaland Territorial Authority nor the district administration has released an official list of the destruction. 

Therefore, Bista has requested to provide full details; saying that he is an elected member of Parliament and a representative   of the people in  his constituency. He is responsible to the people and Parliament and it is necessary to understand the details of the total damage including the loss of public property. 

Bista has asked for a list of details of people who have died due to the floods. He needs the details of the missing persons, the details of the injured and their health status, the number of completely destroyed houses and the estimated damage, the number of partially destroyed houses and the estimated damage, the details of the people and families displaced from their homes and the details of the families living in rented accommodation and their landlords. 

Apart from this, Bista has also sought details of the loss of agricultural fields, livestock and livelihood lost by Teesta. He also asked for the details of the assistance provided for the livelihood of the victims. 

He wants to know the details of the damaged infrastructure along with the status of their restoration. He has also sought the details of the funds provided by the West Bengal government to deal with the damage caused by the disaster in Kalimpong district and how the funds have been allocated or used by the district administration. 

Apart from this, the details of the financial compensation paid to the relatives and survivors of the disaster have also been sought. 

Bista said on Wednesday: “It has been almost a month since the disaster. I would also like to know the possible roadmap of the administration to help the survivors, if the district administration made any decision or plan to permanently rehabilitate the survivors, including providing alternative land for house construction. Bista also wants to know the timeline for how long the district administration and West Bengal government plan to prepare and implement such plans.