2 hrs ago
West Bengal Vows Hill Protection After Nepal Flash Floods
West Bengal’s chief minister said the government wants to keep people in the hills safe from natural disasters.
He made the statement after severe flooding in Nepal.
The flooding was linked to a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border.
The chief minister had planned to visit Kalimpong to check disaster preparations.
Bad weather made him return to Siliguri, so the meeting was held virtually.
The government also created a commission to investigate alleged corruption and money problems.
A retired high court judge will lead the investigation.
The chief minister said money taken improperly would be recovered and those responsible could be arrested.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said protecting people in West Bengal’s hills is the government’s priority after the Nepal flash floods.
The government formed a one-member judicial commission to investigate alleged corruption and financial irregularities during the TMC regime.
Retired Calcutta High Court judge Biswajit Basu will lead the commission’s inquiry across multiple departments and agencies.
Adhikari ordered a thorough investigation into alleged corruption in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and promised recovery of funds and arrests.
His planned visit to Kalimpong to review disaster preparedness was cancelled after bad weather forced him to return to Siliguri.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, retired judge Biswajit Basu, and state ministers Sankar Ghosh and Nisith Pramanik.
- What
- The state announced stronger attention to hill-region disaster protection and a judicial inquiry into alleged corruption and financial irregularities.
- Where
- At the Uttarkanya branch secretariat in Siliguri, concerning West Bengal’s hilly region and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
- When
- The announcements were made on Tuesday, September 8; the Nepal flash flood occurred on August 26.
- Why
- The government cited the Nepal tragedy and the vulnerability of the Himalayan ecology, while the commission was created to examine corruption allegations.
Key facts
- Commission head
- Retired Calcutta High Court judge Biswajit Basu
- Inquiry scope
- Alleged corruption and financial irregularities across departments and agencies, including education, disaster relief, public works, land administration and the GTA
- Hill safety priority
- Protecting people in West Bengal’s hilly region from natural disasters
- GTA action
- The chief minister said alleged corruption would be thoroughly investigated and that money would be recovered
- Nepal disaster
- A flash flood triggered by a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26
- Meeting location
- Uttarkanya, the state government’s branch secretariat in Siliguri
- Planned visit
- The chief minister intended to visit Kalimpong to review disaster preparedness and administrative response
Quotes
Suvendu Adhikari
West Bengal chief minister
“Following the Nepal tragedy, the Bengal government’s priority is to protect people in the hills. We will do everything for the development of the hills.”
theprint.in
“We will conduct a thorough investigation into the GTA scam. The money looted will be recovered, and those involved will be arrested.”
theprint.in
Sources
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