Raju Bista Urges Swift Action to Aid Teesta Flood Victims

Siliguri:7th February 2024(NewsExpose365Days,Desk):

In a pressing address to Parliament today, Raju Bista drew attention to the dire situation faced by victims of the Teesta Flood, emphasizing the negligence of the West Bengal Government. Bista highlighted the catastrophic impact of the October 4th, 2023 flash flood, which devastated the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, resulting in the destruction of nearly 500 homes and the tragic loss of 12 lives.

Despite the magnitude of the disaster, Bista criticized the West Bengal Government for its failure to take substantial action to assist affected citizens. Notably,d he pointed out the state's substantial revenue generation from dams along the Teesta River, amounting to over Rs 600 crores. However, he lamented the government's refusal to classify the flood as an official "disaster," hindering the flow of vital funds from the Disaster Relief Funds to the victims.

Furthermore, Bista highlighted the impasse over the damaged segments of National Highway 10, which severely hampers traffic flow and increases prices of essential commodities due to delays in repair. Urging decisive intervention, Bista called on the Union Government to transfer control of NH10 from the West Bengal PWD to NHIDCL and compel the disbursement of allocated funds to assist flood victims.

With lives and livelihoods at stake, Bista emphasized the need for swift and concerted action to alleviate the suffering of the flood victims and restore normalcy to the region.