More than Rs 13,000 cr due from Centre, says Mamata

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the Centre owes the state more than Rs 13,000 crore under various developmental schemes this year.

"By our calculation till November 25, we are supposed to get Rs 13,714 crore from the central government under various developmental schemes even after paying off our yearly debt of Rs 40,000 crore to the centre," Banerjee said after the administrative meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna.

She said the money is to be paid by the Centre under central schemes like NDRF (National Disaster Response Fund), Swachh Bharat Mission, National Urban Livelihood Mission, National Rural Drinking Water Programme, exchange of enclaves and so on.

Giving an account of the state's expenditure in the current administrative calendar, the chief minister said it has increased the release of planned funds this year and has also decided to spend Rs 12,000 crore separately for infrastructural development in the state.

"In 2016, total planned fund released was Rs 36,730 crore, but this time we have released more than Rs 44,000 crore. So it has been considerably increased. We have also decided to spend Rs 12,000 crore extra for infrastructural development and Rs 900 crore has been already released," she said.

"All departments of the state government have been directed to report by December 15 stating the total amount of the sanctioned budget that remained unutilised and 25 percent of it will be used for the construction of more rural roads and supply drinking water," she said maintaining that this year 25,000 km rural roads were constructed and district magistrates have been asked to give a report within 15 days stating which roads are yet to be built, widened or strengthened.

"A Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded project has been taken up to supply sufficient, safe drinking water in 20 blocks in Purulia. Though the initiative was taken four years ago, only now has the tender been floated. There are problems in supplying drinking water in these areas, but steps need to be taken to ensure proper supply of drinking water as early as possible," the Chief Minister said adding that at the same time the state government has decided to upgrade the primary health care centres and Rs 1,200 crore has been allotted for it. Banerjee said the state would introduce E-Office in all the state-run departments from the beginning of next year to bring in more transparency and credibility.

It may be mentioned that many departments of the state government have already adopted it and the e-tender process is already in place. The state Finance Department has received the Golden Peacock for e-services in taxation. "Complete implementation of E-office will ensure transparency, accountability and credibility…if anyone flouts the instruction of implementing e-office then it will be blacklisted", the Chief Minister cautioned.

The state government is also making short-term, and long-term plans and Chief Secretary Malay De has already held a meeting in this regard. Banerjee said: "There will be separate 5-year, 10-year, mid-term 15-year and long-term 20-year plans."