Stay alert to prevent communal riots: Mamata

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday instructed the police force to pull up their socks and take immediate steps to prevent riots, filling up of water bodies, unauthorised construction and encroachment on roads.

The chief minister presided over the administrative review meeting here in Howrah on Friday afternoon. She made it clear that neither the state government nor the party would support anyone involved in either filling up water bodies or carrying out illegal construction and the errant person would be brought to book. " We are not going to tolerate filling up of water bodies or carrying out of illegal construction," Banerjee said.

The CM asked the police to be on alert and take immediate action if anybody tries to foment communal trouble.

"The police should always remain alert and keep an eye on each and every incident. Don't ignore any information and cross check its veracity. Use civic police, green police and local clubs to gather ground-level information. Some people from outside are trying to foment communal discord," she said at an administrative meeting in Howrah.

She asked the police to be on the road and play an effective role to maintain law and order.

Banerjee ordered the district administration to submit a report on compensation package given to the victims affected by violence in Dhulagarh in December last.

"Lot of false propaganda is being carried out that nothing has been done in Dhulagarh. It is absolutely false.

Why don't they tell the facts about how many people were arrested? How many people were given compensation by the government?" she said

A TV channel had shown a one-sided report about Dhulagarh. It did not say any word on action taken by the government, she said.

The fact is that the state government is reconstructing the houses and shops affected in Dhulagarh violence in addition to payment of compensation of Rs 2.5 crore, she says. Turning to development work in Howrah district, the chief minister said that work for a textile hub at Belur would be completed before puja festival.

She inaugurated the Uluberia stadium and two 'krishak bazars' in the district.

Banerjee assured local business delegations that she would instruct power department officials look into the problem of voltage fluctuations in the district.

The chief minister pointed out that nationalised banks were reluctant to provide loans to farmers and those working in MSME sector. "A meeting will be held at Nabanna on May 15 with representatives of nationalised banks. I will take up this matter with them," she added.