West Bengal Chief Minister today met the Prime Minister in New Delhi and requested the Centre to release funds worth Rs 21000 crore for flood relief operations in Bengal.
She also said that the Centre must modernise DVC and carry out dredging along Damodar’ it is because of release of water by DVC that flood is caused in Bengal, she said.
Addressing a press conference, she said, “West Bengal faced major floods. We have submitted a memorandum to the PM seeking funds for disaster relief.”
At the same time, she also talked about the Centre’s delay in releasing funds on account of Backward Region Development Fund (BRDF) meant for 11 back ward districts in Bengal and also on sectors where the Centre has slashed fund support drastically.
The West Bengal Chief Minister also requested the Prime Minister to convene a meeting of Niti Ayog to discuss plan size. “Planning Commission and National Development Council used to discuss matters of State earlier. They have been shut down. Central funds for several schemes like modernisation of police have been stopped. We sought Niti Ayog meeting for that,” she said.
“We have discussed about a ‘Business Corridor’ involving four countries – Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India – under Look East Policy, ” WB CM added.