12,000-km road project Launched in singur| Bengal deprived of GST share, backing Bill was mistake: CM

GST was launched across India on July 1, 2017 with the TMC giving ‘in principle’ support to the Narendra Modi-led government when the tax framework was introduced. Half of the GST collected goes to the concerned states and half to the Centre.

Hitting out at the BJP-led Centre over investigations being carried out by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against leaders of Opposition parties, the CM said, “The price of a cooking gas cylinder has reached Rs 1,150. The Centre needs to answer why it has not been able to control rising inflation. If anyone questions them on their gift to the country, the ED and the CBI are used to harass them.”

Nearly 30,000 villages in 22 districts of the state will have access to 12,000-km roads through the Pathasree-Rastasree project, she said. Nearly Rs 3,500 crore has been sanctioned for the scheme by the state government and no money was taken from the Centre, she claimed.

She continued, “Since the Centre has not released over Rs 7,000 crore which is pending under the 100-day work scheme despite the fact that we topped the list of states, we believe that politics might have a role in it. We have decided that the work on 12,000-km roads will be concluded before the monsoon. The tendering process should be done properly and the job-card holders under the 100-day work scheme will be engaged for this.”

“We need to set an example and show the Centre that Bengal has the means and mind to find a way out even if they don’t give us our rightful due. In 2011, when the TMC came to power, we noticed that only 30,000-km roads were in existence and those too were in a bad condition.”

Over 90% of the issues were resolved through the ‘Duare sarkar’ progammes, she claimed.
“Some problems may not have been resolved due to technical challenges. We have received over 2 lakh requests through the ‘Didir suraksha kawach’ asking for access to welfare schemes or certificates. I urge people to go to the ‘Duare sarkar’ camps which will be held at every booth from April 1 to 10,” the CM added.

Talking about her 25-day fast during the Singur movement against the then Left Front government’s land acquisition policy for the Tata Nano factory, Banerjee said, “We have seen tough times. Tomorrow, I will begin a two-day sit-in to demand funds from the Centre.”

With PTI inputs