August 24, 2014
WB Govt demands release of pending Central funds for the State
Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday met WestBengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna and praised the Bengalgovernment's “positive approach” on the goods and service tax (GST).
Mr Jaitley arrived at Nabanna at 6.10 PM and the discussionslasted for 50 minutes. Ms Mamata Banerjee handed the Union Finance Minister alist of projects that are stuck because the Centre is yet to release funds.”The matter will be discussed when the state finance minister comes to NewDelhi. All the related departments will be called to the meeting to discuss thematter,” Jaitley said, adding that the Centre was aware of problems the statesface.
Chief minister Ms Mamata Banerjee has been repeatedly stressingon the issue of the Centre not releasing funds for different projects andschemes and the moratorium as the state is facing a tough time on repayingdebt.
Only this month, the CM on her Facebook page said that theCentre has not released its full share of funds to the state and that nearly Rs885 crore was still pending on the 100 days work scheme under the MGNREGAscheme.
Mamata Banerjee has also been complaining since the UPA-IIgovernment's time that the Centre was taking away all money from the state'scoffers for debt servicing.
After the change in power at the Centre, Mamata expressedhope saying that the state will be waiting to see what the Centre does on theissue of moratorium. She also said that the state government was waiting forthe report of the 14th Finance Commission on the state's financial demands.
