Allegation of govt drying out coffers of SMC a 'blatant lie': Goutam Deb

Darjeeling: Tourism minister Goutam Deb scoffed at Siliguri Corporation Mayor Ashok Bhattacharjee's plans of protest, alleging that the Mayor's claims of the state drying out the coffers of the Siliguri Corporation are blatant lies.

Deb stated that a white paper will soon be published, with details of the funds allotted to the corporation by the state and how the corporation has failed to utilise the same.

Bhattacharjee had claimed that the state government has not been allotting funds to the Sliguri Corporation, thereby leaving it cash-strapped. He has alleged that despite repeated requests, funds have not been allotted. Bhattacharjee, along with 21 Left councillors have decided to stage a sit-in demonstration at

the Metro Channel, Kolkata from March 1.

"These are baseless allegations and blatant lies. Such statements are being made as an attempt to politicise matters and hog the limelight," claimed Deb.

Ample funds have been given to the corporation but are unutilised. "Just two days ago, the corporation received an administrative approval of over Rs 10 crore for 13 projects under the state government's Green City programme," stated Deb.

In the financial years 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 (one month still left), the Municipal Affairs department of the state government alone has allotted Rs 289 crore to the Siliguri Corporation. Along with this, special assistance from other departments have also been given, claimed the Tourism minister.

"There are huge unspent amounts with the corporation which they had surrendered in the last financial year as it is a rule of the government that unspent amounts have to be returned at the end of the financial year," stated Deb.

The minister stated that Rs 2.43 lakh had been returned in the last financial year. Along with this, he also furnished a list of funds lying unspent under different heads in the corporation at present.