March 25, 2014
WB Finance Minister slams Centre for depriving Bengal of Rs 86000 crore over the last three years
West Bengal Finance Minister Dr Amit Mitra Monday pointed to `facts and figures` to establish how the Centre has deprived Bengal of Rs 86,000 crore over the past three years. He was addressing a press conference in Nabanna.
“The Centre has deprived Bengal in the past three years. According to an estimate prepared today, I found that the Chief Minister is right. The Centre has deprived Bengal of over Rs 86,000 crore since 2011-12,” the finance minister said. “I have had a discussion with the Chief Minister before revealing the facts and figures,” he said.
“We could have taken up development projects for the minorities, farmers and students in backward areas… But the Centre deprived us with a political motive,” the finance minister added.
What the finance minister tried to establish is that the State could not undertake some projects as the Centre deprived it of funds. Bengal did not get the full allotment on various projects over the past three years.
The Chief Minister had laid stress on completing projects on time. In a meeting held at Nabanna with departmental secretaries, she told the officials that they should take responsibility of monitoring the projects. She also asked officials to get in touch with Delhi if funds were not released on time.
