KOLKATA: The Centre has allocated Rs 1104 crore to Bengal under the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF). Bengal’s allocation is the highest after Madhya Pradesh (Rs 2033 crore) and Maharashtra (Rs 3050). Odisha, Manipur and Chhattisgarh, the other beneficiaries, have received much less.Increased allocation of NDRF funds for Bengal had figured in discussions between chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 8 in New Delhi. The CM had made a spirited pitch for increased allocation, given the fact that the state has 12-affected districts. Mamata had also argued that the number of casualties should not be the lone benchmark for deciding the quantum of relief and the state should not be penalized for taking quick pre-emptive action. The Prime Minister had given her a patient hearing.Even as Mamata took up the matter with the PM, her MPs repeatedly raised the issue in Parliament. On December 3, home minister Rajnath Singh said in Lok Sabha, “Bengal has in the financial year 2015-16 made an additional demand of Rs 10,705 under SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund). We had sent a central team and after submission of their report a decision will be taken in this matter. This year, we have provided Bengal a financial assistance of Rs 387 crore till now. I want to assure the House that the Centre will provide all necessary assistance to the states based on the current situation.”On December 21, Singh chaired a meeting to decide on the quantum of central Assistance to states affected by drought, landslides and flood. Finance minister Arun Jaitley, Niti Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya also attended the meeting. Relief for Bengal under NDRF was fixed at Rs 1104 crore.