The West Bengal government, under the previous Mamata Banerjee-led TMC regime, allegedly exaggerated the projected losses following the AMPHAN super-cyclone in 2020 to secure higher central relief funds, as per a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). The CAG report revealed that the projected losses were not only inflated but also lacked substantiating evidence, making it impossible to accurately estimate the actual impact of the cyclone.
One significant discrepancy highlighted in the CAG report was the state government’s claim of providing Rs 20,000 in compensation to families for each house damaged by the cyclone. However, post-June 2020, the compensation for partially damaged houses was raised to Rs 25,000, without a clear explanation from the government, leading to further scrutiny by auditors.
Moreover, instances were noted where individuals were listed to have received compensation multiple times, with a high concentration of such cases in severely affected districts like South 24 Parganas, Nadia, East Midnapore, and West Midnapore. Discrepancies in bank account details further raised concerns, with 1,44,175 transactions worth Rs 125.07 crore showing inconsistencies, indicating flaws in beneficiary selection and payment controls.
The aftermath of the super cyclone ‘Amphan’ in May 2020 wreaked havoc in 16 districts of West Bengal, causing widespread devastation to various sectors and claiming 99 lives. The CAG report sheds light on the mismanagement of relief funds and the need for improved accountability in disaster response and recovery efforts.
