Mamata to talk Bengal development with Modi

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the state beginning Saturday and give him a memorandum regarding development of the state.

“It’s a courtesy of the government to meet the PM and (we will) give him a memorandum regarding the development of the state,” the Chief Minister said.

“There are some schemes where funds have been stopped. I have to talk regarding why the funds have been stopped. I have to talk to him why the funds were stopped for my Jangalmahal (tribal area in south Bengal),” the Chief Minister said.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to pay a two-day visit to West Bengal starting May 9.

“We cannot stop all social sector programmes because social sector is the backbone of society. It is our responsibility to help the poor. We will fulfil our social commitments,” she said.

The Trinamool Congress chief added, “The Centre has also curtailed funds for Sarbasikhya Abhiyan, 100 days work ... Despite all these the development works are still on.” 

Talking about the development review meeting with senior government officials earlier in the day, Banerjee said “We had discussion on varied subjects starting from 100 days work, mid-day meal, tourism, potato cultivation, malnutrition, tea, small scale industry, women and child.” 

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also supported the Centre’s Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh, saying that the people of the state wanted it and sought a package from the Centre for the rehabilitation of those affected. “With (rehabilitation) package we are supporting it (agreement),” Banerjee said in Jalpaiguri.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said her government would develop seven smart cities in the state. The location for six smart cities had already been finalised, while that of the seventh one would be finalised soon, she said. The cities will come up near Siliguri, near Gazol in Malda, near Kalyani in Nadia, near Bolpur in Birbhum, near the industrial towns of Asansol-Durgapur covering Churulia, near Garia and near the state secretariat Nabanna.