The Hindu : National : Package soon for cyclone-hit

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 29, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Package soon for cyclone-hit

Special Correspondent

Mamata outlines steps; Pranab travelling to the affected areas

NEW DELHI: Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced that the Central government would come out with a relief package for those hit by Cyclone Aila in West Bengal.

After meeting Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, she chief said the package was being worked out and would be announced shortly. Ms. Banerjee requested Mr. Mukherjee to dispatch relief materials to the affected regions as people were facing shortages of food, water and basic commodities.

The Finance Minister was set to fly to West Bengal in the evening and see the damage to life and property himself before deciding on the quantum and nature of relief. He is also likely to visit his Lok Sabha constituency, Jangipur.

Attending office at Rail Bhavan for the first time after taking oath on May 22 and assuming charge on May 26 in Kolkata, Ms. Banerjee termed the cyclone a disaster.

She said the Army was dropping relief materials but wanted the Centre also to compensate those who had lost property.

The TMC chief refused to be drawn into a controversy over her party’s share in the Ministry, saying it was her prerogative and that of the Prime Minister. Her party did not hanker after office; the motive was to serve the people in the best possible manner. She said the objective was to ensure the stability of the UPA government. “We are happy with what we have.” When reporters pointed out that the DMK had bargained and secured a greater number of berths, Ms. Banerjee said that was the DMK’s decision. It was for that party to decide on its strategy.

Ms. Banerjee said she would see to it that the Railways did good business and yet ensured the best of passenger services also extending a helping hand to the poor in the unorganised sector.

Displaying her level of awareness of the challenges posed by the economic slowdown and the additional annual burden of Rs. 14,000 crore on account of the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations, the Railway Minister said these factors would play a crucial role in deciding modernisation projects and the course she would chart while presenting the budget for 2009-10 in the first week of July.

Asked about the Rs. 90,000-crore surplus that her predecessor Lalu Prasad claimed to have generated, Ms. Banerjee asked: “Why are you trying to embarrass him? I’ll be happy if that is there. The officers are working on it and the facts would be made in the next budget.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National