Mamata inaugurates 4th unit of Sagardighi plant

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the fourth unit of Sagardighi Thermal Power Plant on Wednesday and laid the foundation stone of the fifth unit that would be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 3,800 crore. The fourth unit has been set up at an estimated cost of Rs 3,000 crore.

Speaking at the function, she said around 50 to 60 lakh people would be benefitted by the project and stressed that almost 100% people in the rural areas have received electricity in the state under the "Sabar ghore alo" project.

Criticising the Congress MPs, she added that Murshidabad district had been badly hit by soil erosion along the river bank but none of the MPs had raised the matter in Delhi.

"The state government had asked for Rs 700 crore to repair the embankments but the amount has not yet been released. During my recent visit to Delhi, I had requested the Prime Minister to release the amount," she said. She further added that Rs 400 crore worth Kandi master plan has been prepared.

The Chief Minister said as many as 4,000 families from Murshidabad, who had lost jobs due to demonetisation, had been given Rs 50,000 each to start businesses of their own.

"We are trying to help those who lost their jobs due to demonetisation. The amount many not be very big but it shows the genuineness of the state government to address all sorts of people who are in distress."

Banerjee said the healthcare system in Murshidabad had improved over the past few years. Three multi-super specialty hospitals have come up in Jangipur, Sagardighi and Domkol and 25 Sick Neonatal Care Units (SNCU) have been constructed.

The child mortality rate has gone down over the years. People are getting free treatment in the state-run hospitals.

"Costly treatments like dialysis and heart operations are free in state-run hospitals. We have been providing treatment to eight crore people in the state-run hospitals and Bengal is number 1 in the country in providing free treatment to people in government hospitals."

The Chief Minister also added that the students have been benefitted immensely by Kanyashree, Yubashree and Sabuj Sathi. Cycles were distributed among students of Classes IX and X under the project.

The Gatidhara scheme has also helped over 10,000 unemployed youth to become self-reliant. She said as many as 21 Kishan Mandis have been constructed so far in the district and farmers are getting correct prices for their produce and the middlemen now have no role in the district.

It may be mentioned that Murshidabad district which was considered to be the stronghold of Congress had switched over to Trinamool last year.

The Zilla Parishad has come under Trinamool too. In Domkol, the municipality election will be held in May and it will prove to be a litmus test for the Trinamool as Congress and CPI(M) are set to form an alliance.