West Bengal doesn't need Rs 1,000 crore central assistance: Mamata Banerjee

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said West Bengal has suffered losses of more than Rs 1 lakh crore due to super cyclonic storm 'Amphan'.

Kolkata:West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that the state doesn't need Rs 1,000 crore central assistance for super cyclonic storm 'Amphan', which has killed 80 people and left thousands homeless in the state.

According to reports, Mamata today visited one of the worst affected districts, South 24 Parganas, and took stock of the situation. She later held a meeting with district officials and agencies engaged in restoration work.

"We are facing Coronavirus, migrant labourers returning to the state, lockdown and we have also faced this super cyclone. More than 76 lakh people are affected across 29 blocks of the state. Most of the areas we surveyed were totally ravaged. I have briefed the Prime Minister in detail about the post-cyclone situation in the state," Mamata said.

"The prime minister has announced Rs 1,000 crore emergency fund. What's the package I don't know. I have told him that we will give him the details. It will take some time to assess the overall situation but the damage is of more than Rs 1 lakh crore," she said.

Instructing officials to arrange alternate locations for all washed out and damaged ration shops, the chief minister said a package will soon be formulated for students who have lost their books in the cyclone.

"For the past three months our cash reserves have been bleeding. We will provide an objective report to the central team and the task force formed by the state government will be working overtime to restore normalcy," Mamata further added.