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regular-article-logo Saturday, 04 May 2024

Mamata Banerjee to review projects before rural elections

Chief minister is likely to take note of the progress of projects that are important for rural development, says a senior bureaucrat

Our Special Correspondent Calcutta Published 12.04.23, 05:41 AM
Mamata Banerjee.

Mamata Banerjee. File photo

Mamata Banerjee is likely to hold a state-wide administrative review meeting on April 26 where secretaries of all departments will showcase the progress of development projects carried out by their respective sections.

The meeting could be the last of its kind before panchayat polls.

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“The chief minister is likely to take note of the progress of projects that are important for rural development. Based on the outcome of the meeting, the chief minister may finalise the areas where she would lay stress during the campaign of the rural polls,” said a senior bureaucrat.

Sources said issues like Pathasree were likely to get the most importance during the meeting. This particular project was launched keeping the rural polls in mind. A sum of Rs 3,000 crore was allotted to lay new rural roads and repair the damaged roads in the absence of central funds under the PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana).

A total of 12,000km of rural road is supposed to be laid or repaired. The project is important for the ruling establishment as Trinamul Congress leaders had received the majority of complaints during the Didir Doot programme about the pathetic condition of rural roads.

“Now, the chief minister will take note of the progress of the project. If the progress of the project is good, the chief minister can make the issue a key point in her campaign,” said a source.

Another project that may get attention is providing employment to job cardholders of the MGNREGA.

Since the Centre stopped releasing funds under the MGNREGA for Bengal alleging financial irregularities, the state government tried to provide jobs to the card holders through its schemes.

“A few months ago, the state had generated more than 10 lakh mandays. The chief minister will assess whether it has progressed remarkably as this scheme is very important for the rural people who are facing trouble in the absence of the 100-day job scheme,” said a bureaucrat.

A section of officials said the notification for the rural polls could be issued soon after the meeting. “The delivery of services to the applicants of Duare Sarkar that was concluded on Monday has been extended till April 30. The notification for the polls could be issued by early May,” said a source.

If the notification is issued in the first week of May, the polls could be held by the end of May or in the first week of June. There should be 24 days between the notification and the voting.

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