Battle for Bengal: Can Mamata hold Sunderbans fort after graft allegations in Amphan aid?

The Centre had provided Rs 6,250 crore relief, but thousands of victims complained that they received no help. This despite the fact that Bengal has a separate department for Sunderban affairs and government officials were responsible for the distribution of relief materials.

In May last year, in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, West Bengal was struck by another calamity Cyclone Amphan. The cyclone ravaged South Bengal and flattened villages, especially in the Sunderbans area. Over a hundred people were feared dead and property losses were estimated at thousands of crores. The Centre chipped in with financial assistance, but there have been allegations of widespread corruption in relief funds. Senior BJP leaders, while campaigning in the two 24 Parganas, have repeatedly attacked the ruling Trinamool Congress on this issue. Fingers have also been raised at Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek over misappropriation of funds. Abhishek’s Lok Sabha constituency of Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas is not far from the Sunderbans region. Read | Modi govt sent Rs 10,000 crore for Amphan relief, bhatija didn’t let you see it: Amit Shah at Bengal rally