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As blame game and bureaucratic turmoil continued between the Center and the West Bengal government, a core team on a visit to Kolkata and Siliguri to assess the COVID-19 situation on Saturday marked the lack of cooperation. by the state to provide logistical support and other relevant information.
In a letter to Secretary-General Rajiva Sinha, the central inter-ministerial team (IMCT) led by chief bureaucrat Apurba Chandra, also sought details of the steps taken by the dispensation led by Mamata Banerjee to identify and quarantine those who returned of the Tablighi Jamaat Congregation in the Nizamuddin area of Delhi.
Meanwhile, the core team that visited northern Bengal wrote to the government suggesting a stricter implementation of the blockade there.
The ruling Trinamool Congress described the IMCT as “India’s most insensitive team,” which it said has tried to “blatantly” spread the political virus.
Chandra told the team that she has not yet received a response from the state government to the letters she has written to Sinha since her arrival in the city on Monday.
“To date, four letters have been written to the state government. No response has been received to date … It has been widely reported in the media that the chief secretary of West Bengal has declared that the IMCT is free to visit anywhere, and the state government cannot waste their time accompanying them.
“The above position is in violation of the order of the Union Interior Ministry and the state government is expected to provide logistical support and facilitate all field visits,” Chandra said in one of two letters to Sinha on Saturday.
He also wanted to know if the state government would take responsibility for ICMT security if he ventures on his own in the absence of a police escort. “Will the BSF accompanying the IMCT be allowed to take any steps to ensure the safety of the IMCT in the absence of police support?” The letter read.
Additionally, Chandra wrote about the team’s desire to interact with food supply officials and civilians regarding the supply of essential goods to residents in the containment areas.
However, the core team praised the government’s efforts to maintain strict enforcement of the confinement in the Salkia (Howrah) containment area.
Team members searched for complete records of surveillance conducted in the containment area, such as the number of households and individuals, and tracing contacts of COVID-19 patients in the areas.
In North Bengal, the core team, led by senior bureaucrat Vineet Joshi, said more field officers are required to monitor and provide feedback on the effectiveness of various measures taken by the government.
“As an immediate measure, it is suggested that the stricter implementation of the blockade is absolutely necessary to prevent a new outbreak. A larger number of field officers are required to monitor and provide feedback on the effectiveness of various measures taken by the government,” he said. Joshi in his letter to the Chief Secretary.
He also sought a meeting with the Siliguri Police Commissioner and details on the state’s preparedness against COVID-19 in North Bengal. The country is closed until May 3 to control the spread of the new coronavirus.
(With PTI tickets)
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