West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Thursday that his government will provide Rs 1.8 lakh as financial aid to families whose houses were destroyed in recent floods across the Malda district, alongside Rs 90,000 for partially damaged homes.
Speaking at a flood-relief distribution programme in Raghunathpur, Adhikari sanctioned Rs 242 crore in compensation targeting 24,595 affected families across Manikchak, Ratua, and English Bazar. Ahead of Durga Puja, essentials including new clothes and tarpaulins are also being distributed to 5,000 severely impacted households.
Addressing long-term infrastructure, the CM revealed that IIT-Kanpur has been commissioned to draft a detailed project report for a permanent resolution to Malda’s recurring flood crisis. Furthermore, proposals exceeding Rs 3,000 crore have been submitted to the Centre for river erosion control in Malda and Murshidabad, with Rs 500 crore already cleared.
In additional announcements, Adhikari stated that state employees and teachers will receive advance salaries with a 20% higher dearness allowance before Oct 16. The administration also plans to roll out major recruitment drives, starting with 12,000 police personnel, ahead of appointment letters being distributed on Oct 12.
