Concerned CM beefs up flood relief measures in Midnapore

Kolkata, Jul 7(UNI) Expressing concern over the insufficient relief structure, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today decided to beef up flood relief work in worst-affected East and West Midnapore districts.

''We have asked the district administration to increase the number of speed boats to expedite the supply of food packets and medicines to the affected people,'' Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb told reporters.

He was speaking at the Writers Buildings following an emergency meeting the chief minister had with secretaries and senior officials after his return from Midnapore.

Mr Deb said Ghatal, Narayanpur and Sabong were the worst-affected.

''Around 46,641 people have been evacuated in the two districts,'' he said.

The state government has opened 259 relief camps in West and East Midnapore districts.

''The situation in these two districts has deteriorated while that in Purulia, Bankura, Kolkata and North 24 Parganas has improved,'' Mr Deb said.

Mr Deb said the rivers in the two Midnapore districts like Subarnarekha, Kangsabati and Silabati were flowing over the danger levels.

Meanwhile, the total number of people affected by floods across the state stood at more than 42.5 lakh, he added.

Mr Sajjan Jindal, whose company JSW Bengal Limited will set up a steel plant in Salboni in Midnapore, today donated Rs one crore to the government for relief measures.

EDS:Here pick up suitably from CA 17 'FLOOD-RELIEF-CM'.

UNI