West Bengal Finance Minister to meet Pranab Mukherjee today
2 Jun 2009, 1056 Hrs

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New Delhi, June 2 West Bengal's Finance Minister, Dr. Ashim Dasgupta, will meet Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today and submit a report on the recent devastation caused by cyclone Aila in the state.

The West Bengal Government has already asked the Centre to release thousand crore rupees from the National Calamity Fund and declare the cyclone devastation a national disaster.

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had discussed post-Aila relief with Dasgupta on May 29.

Dasgupta's visit to Delhi is seen as crucial, especially after Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the Centre not to disburse any central funds to the State Government but to panchayats.

The cyclone hit the coastal areas of West Bengal.

At least 5.1 million people were displaced, with more than a million people left stranded in the Sundarbans alone. Hundreds of thousands of houses were also destroyed.

At least 125 people are reported to have died. A total of 71.64 tonnes of relief material was airlifted to different camps and 25 passengers were transported to safe spot. (ANI)

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