CM Mamata to inaugurate construction work of 18,000 km roads on June 12

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced that she will inaugurate the construction of 18,000 km rural roads on June 12 from South 24 Parganas.

She said this at the administrative review meeting of South 24 Parganas held in Pailan on Friday afternoon. The venue will be decided later and the Chief

Minister will declare South 24 Parganas as an Open Defecation Free (ODF) district on the same day. Meanwhile, it was known that minister Subrata Mukherjee will be in Burdwan on June 12. He said, 550 km rural roads had been constructed in South 24 Parganas.

Meanwhile, talking tough on a certain section of people fanning communal violence, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday asked the police and the district administration of South 24 Parganas to not spare a single person who has a motive to incite violence.

In Friday's meeting, Banerjee instructed police not to spare criminals and arrest them irrespective of political colour. "Do not spare the criminals and those who incite communal riots. I will not tolerate any communal disturbance," she said.

Referring to Bhangar, where villagers had attacked police and set their vehicles on fire, she said "I have specific information that bombs and arms have been stored in some houses in Bhangar and outsiders are coming regularly. We have tolerated so far but police will have to crack the whip and arrest the persons involved in the matter." Banerjee said that in some areas in Sunderbans, Patharpratima, Kultuli and Joynagar, some criminals have become active. "Police will have to take stringent actions and bring about peace in these areas."

The Chief Minister also instructed police and administrative officers to attend to visitors and ensure that they do not wait for longer hours to meet them. "I have received several complaints that people have to wait for several hours to see the IC of police stations or the BDOs. This will not be tolerated and it is the duty of the officers to meet the visitors. She asked the district administration to use the cell phone app IVMS 4500 to keep a tab on the police stations.

In the meeting, Alapan Bandopadhyay, principal secretary, Transport department said that Rs 6.70 crore had been spent to upgrade 67 jetties in the district. Under Jaladhara project, semi mechanised boats would be upgraded and the Transport department would give Rs 1 lakh for upgradation. He also said, 10 lakh people have been given employment in the transport sector in the past six years.

However, Banerjee expressed displeasure over the poor performance of the district under the 100 days work. She instructed the officials to pull up their socks and take up the matter seriously. She urged the BDOs and SDOs to look into the matter seriously.

Banerjee said punitive action would be taken against contractors who leave the projects midway and suggested that their property should be seized. "They are not only cheating the government but are putting people in trouble. Because of these contractors, there are delays in completing projects," she maintained.

On Friday, Banerjee laid the foundation stone of a medical college and hospital at Diamond Harbour. Like the private healthcare establishments, the state-run hospitals and primary health centres should be monitored and those responsible for the lapses should be pulled up, said the Chief Minister.

The state government will set up a hub for the MSME sector at Puddapukur off Baruipur. A sum of Rs 200 crore will be provided to improve the infrastructure in the areas surrounding the Bantala leather complex. Banerjee also welcomed the owners of tanneries from other states like Kanpur, Kerala who have expressed their willingness to set up their units in the state. "Anyone willing to do business is welcome and the government will provide all assistance."