Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directed respective departments of the state government to expedite their work in order to ensure completion of their task before the stipulated time.
This comes after 35 departments have spent less than 40 percent of the amount of the planned budget allotted by the state government.
Banerjee stated: "There was a thorough discussion on issues related to the schemes including 100 days work, health, education and agriculture. We have also discussed the situation after the floods that affected around 85 lakh people."
In the state-level administrative review meeting headed by the Chief Minister and held in the newly constructed Nabanna Sabhaghar, it has been revealed that almost 20 departments have spent less than 15 percent of the planned budget that the state government had sanctioned. The departments include Technical Education, Mass Education, Sports, Food Processing and Forest, sources in the state Secretariat said.
Again, there are 15 departments that have spent something between 16 to 40 percent of the planned budget while the rest of the departments are in the bracket of 41 to 60 percent.
The departments that have spent something between 41 and 60 percent include Co-operation, Home, Agriculture Marketing and Higher Education.
Three departments including Power and Panchayat and Rural Development departments have been lauded by the Chief Minister for their performances. All three have spent more than 60 percent.
At present, there are 53 departments of the Bengal government and 35 out of them have managed to spend less than 40 percent of the planned budget that the state government had sanctioned. Sources said assessing the need to expedite the work to complete all the ongoing projects and schemes on time; the Chief Minister has directed the concerned officials of those departments to take necessary measures regarding the same.
She has directed the officials to take measures so that there is no delay in implementing the schemes which directly benefit the people at the grassroots level. She took a note of the present status of the project to build permanent structure for ICDS centres, an official said.
Banerjee also directed the District Magistrates of districts including Purulia, South 24 Parganas, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar to be alert so that flagship projects can be implemented in a better manner.
It is learnt that she wanted to know about the present condition of the krishak bazars that were constructed for farmers in the districts. After knowing that some of those remain open only in weekends, she directed the concerned senior official to take immediate steps to ensure better functioning of the same.