Less central funds directly affecting cyclone relief work, says Mamata

Kolkata: A lesser devolution of central tax share to West Bengal is making it difficult for the state to tide over the loss caused by Cyclone Bulbul, particularly in the districts of North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday.
“We have received Rs 640 crore less in this part of the year than last year.It indicates that the economic downturn has not only affected the manufacturing sector and employment, it has also cast a shadow on devolution of taxes to states. I presume that other states have also been hit like West Bengal,” the CM said at Nabanna.
Sources in the state secretariat, however, pointed out that the economic downturn will strengthen the state’s claim for getting compensation as the Centre had promised to states during the switchover to GST in 2017. This is the last financial when the state is entitled to such compensation.
Banerjee held that the shortfall in central share of taxes comes at a time when the state government needs funds badly for relief and reconstruction in the cyclone-ravaged areas. According to rough estimates, the loss in crops and properties has been pegged at Rs 15,000 crore. “We have been conducting relief work with our own revenues that have seen a growth despite the downturn. Our revenues stood at Rs 33,739 crore till October last year, which reached Rs 34,888 crore by the end of October this year,” the CM said.
Banerjee said state funds wasn’t adequate to tackle the post-cyclone situation after shelling out Rs 50,000 crore as annual outgo on account of debt servicing. “We hope the Centre will come forward to do the hand-holding. A central team is coming to the state to make an assessment of the damage. We will also submit a detailed report to the Centre,” the CM said.
The CM, while describing the extent of damage, said: “Mainly paddy crops over 15 lakh hectares of land have been damaged. A total 5 lakh houses have been damaged and 6 lakh people have been affected. We are giving 12 kg rice and other food grains to the victims and have also arranged for a kit that includes rice and pulses, utensils, baby food, blanket, garments and hurricane for distribution. Examinations in the cyclone-hit areas have been postponed by a week,” she said.