Logo

Logo

CM Banerjee to officials: Stop needless expenses

Delhi deprives us. The Centre does not pay our legitimate claims though it collects revenue from the state. The Centre gives us just a single portion of the total revenue collected from our state.

CM Banerjee to officials: Stop needless expenses

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee addressing an administrative meeting for Jalpaiguri district at the auditorium at Uttarknaya.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday asked officials to follow a 15-point notification issued by the state as part of its austerity measures, and control unnecessary expenses.

Echoing chief secretary Malay Kumar De, Miss Banerjee said: “Try to think that the government’s money is your money. Don’t spend government money unnecessarily. Wastage of money may lead to crisis in making payment of salaries for many people in various sectors on time.”

Addressing an administrative meeting for Jalpaiguri district at the auditorium at Uttarknaya here, the CM especially pointed out to the “abnormal expense money” used from the government exchequer.

Advertisement

The CM, who pointed out to ‘gross financial irregularities’ during floating of tenders and issuing work orders to contractors, said: “The cost of food packet will be Rs 100 instead of Rs 500.”

“We can’t compromise on the quality and credibility. Contractors take opportunity to get work orders at low costs. Later, the cost of the projects escalate as they reach various phases. Sometimes, contractors make excuses and leave the sites. It increases the cost of the project and development work suffers from faulty tender process in the districts,” Miss Banerjee said.

Citing an example of gross financial irregularities, chief secretary, Mr De said officials locally divide big-budget projects and float three tenders partly to bypass the vetting process through appropriate authorities. He also asked officials not to do so further and estimate the project cost properly and float flawless tenders.

“Delhi deprives us. The Centre does not pay our legitimate claims though it collects revenue from the state. The Centre gives us just a single portion of the total revenue collected from our state,” the CM said.

During a review meeting of development work, Miss Banerjee said that she will be here again to inaugurate the much-awaited Circuit Bench in Jalpaiguri on 17 August.

The CM further stressed on the need to carry out the 100- day job seriously to bring in development in other sectors like agriculture and horticulture for income-generation projects for the local people.

Department officials concerned were asked to explore scopes to provide loan to landless people through cooperative banks. During discussions on skill development programme, Miss Banerjee was told that a section of people in Kurseong have started manufacturing sari from bamboo fibre.

She asked officials concerned to set up four ‘export marketing centre’ for new and unique products of local artisans. Of them, two such centres will be set up in Malda and Siliguri.

The chief minister also interacted with officials of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and sought plans and proposals from them. She expressed unhappiness over non-implementation of a new Industrial Growth Centre in Jalpaiguri and asked departmental heads to formulate a standard rate of LUC (Land Used Certificate) in response to a complaint against the Rajganj Panchayat Samiti for claiming exorbitant rate as compared to other districts.

She also warned land sharks, who are allegedly active in this region. During interaction with entrepreneurs associated with the mega tourism project at Gajoldoba, the CM questioned the delay and the reasons behind the same.

Quoting the name of an agency for the project, the CM asked: “Starling is not my darling. Give it to others. Will it be completed in my lifetime?” During discussions on drinking water crisis, the chief minister pointed out: “There is drinking waters crisis in Darjeeling and Kalimpong. But we are in no position to formulate projects there due to frequent agitation there.”

Reviewing other departments, she specifically asked the police to arrange for counseling of drivers who have been hired to drive police vehicles, so as to check road accidents, as part of the ‘Safe drive, Save Life’ campaign. She also asked to print one crore stickers for the ‘Safe Drive Save Life’ campaign so that drivers can stick them on their steering wheels.

Advertisement