FACT: Mamata Banerjee, the newly elected chief minister of West Bengal, expressed her dissatisfaction with the Centre for not releasing funds to bail the state out of the financial crisis. “Bengal’s economy is in a shambles. Funds are needed to revive it. I have met the Union finance minister six to eight times. Till now, nothing has happened,” she said.
“I expect that they (the Centre) will do something. I had spoken to the Prime Minister and he had also assured me of help,” the chief minister said. Mamata, however, sounded confident. “I am sure once this economic crisis is over, Bengal will not have to go with a begging bowl to anyone,” she said.
The Bengal government is finding it difficult to fund its development projects. “The expenses have gone up in the past two months as several development schemes have been announced. Funds are required immediately but the avenues of income generation are few,” a Writers’ official said.
The government has decided to borrow Rs 1,000 crore from the market by issuing bonds. (The Telegraph, Friday, July 22, 2011).
Owl Watch: Didi started crying foul within two months!! Didi is in central government and in state government too. If Didi starts crying, what the people of West Bengal will do for rest of 58 months of her regime?
