Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday said his government would work closely with the Centre to ensure that the state receives all the benefits of a double-engine government like several other BJP-ruled states.
Addressing the media after the launch of the ‘Swachha App’ in the state in the presence of Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal, Adhikari said there was significant scope for rebuilding the state in the power and urban development sectors.
The app was launched by Lal in the presence of Adhikari and state urban development minister Agnimitra Paul. The app is designed to improve civic amenities through technology and the participation of citizens.
“I want to assure the people of West Bengal that we will work with every ministry of the Union government to ensure that all the benefits of a double-engine government, which 20 other states are receiving, are extended to our state as well,” he said.
The chief minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly lamented that West Bengal has not developed at the pace expected despite being a leader in sectors such as industry and education after Independence.
Adhikari said he had a detailed discussion with Union Minister Manohar Lal regarding what the Centre and the state government can jointly do for urban and power sector development in West Bengal.
“He assured central cooperation in every sector, with some projects to be implemented on a cost-sharing basis, for rebuilding the state,” he said.
The chief minister said 10 urban local bodies would initially benefit from the cleanliness mission under the ‘Swachha App’ initiative.
These are the municipal corporations of Asansol and Durgapur, and the municipalities of Basirhat, Pujali, Tufanganj, Contai, Krishnanagar, Nalhati, Baidyabati and Madhyamgram.
Adhikari said his government had signed a Rs 39,000-crore agreement under the Jal Jeevan Mission with the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti through virtual mode.
He also said the state had received approval of Rs 2,103 crore under the National Health Mission and Rs 976 crore under the Ayushman Bharat Mission from the Union Health Ministry for the current fiscal.
The chief minister urged the Centre to extend the benefits of various schemes to smaller municipalities and municipal corporations in the state under the Urban Challenge Fund.
Adhikari sought the Union government’s support for increasing e-transportation options in the state to overcome environment and pollution-related challenges.
Stating that there is a lot of work to be done in the power sector in the state, Adhikari said, “Around half of the state’s population is below the poverty line.”
He said in the tribal and hill areas of the state, the Union government’s PM Surya Ghar scheme, which is the National Mission for Rooftop Solar power, should be implemented and that a team from his government will go to Delhi for discussion on the issue.
Highlighting his government’s focus on improving infrastructure and public amenities on a mission mode, Adhikari said a long-pending bottleneck in Kolkata Metro’s Orange Line was resolved soon after the BJP government assumed office in the state.
He said a permission-related issue that had delayed work for more than a year was addressed, paving the way for completion of a critical 62-metre viaduct gap at Chingrighata crossing on the EM Bypass on May 25.
The girder-launching work for the New Garia-Airport Metro corridor, which had remained stalled due to traffic block permission issues, was completed on Monday morning, he added.
Adhikari said Lal had suggested exploring Metro rail services in urban centres with populations of 25 lakh to 30 lakh.
“I would request our urban development minister to send proposals to Delhi and initiate the preparation of detailed project reports and planning for such projects,” he said.
The chief minister also said the previous Mamata Banerjee government had wrongly blamed the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for annual flooding in south Bengal.
“DVC and the state government will work together during the coming monsoon,” he said.
Adhikari said state ministers and officials, along with him, would visit New Delhi to hold discussions with the Union Power Ministry on exploring opportunities for expanding the power sector in the state.
