Pranab says will talk to PM on spl package but does not commit

During a meeting of the National Development Council on Saturday,the Chief Minister had asked the Centre to treat West Bengal ‘differently’ and demanded a debt restructuring plan. Mamata Banerjee highlighted the accumulated debt burden of Rs 2 lakh crore in the state. “In view of the financial mess that we have inherited,the 12th Plan should look at a debt restructuring plan for West Bengal,” the Chief Minister had said.

After coming to power,Mamata Banerjee has been pressing for a special economic package and had also met Prime Minister Singh in this regard.

In all their visits to Delhi and meetings with Mukherjee,she and state Finance Minister Amit Mitra has been pressing for the special package.

The Union Finance Minister also said he would talk to Home Minister P Chidambaram on extending the benefits of schemes for Left Wing Extremism-affected areas to two more districts of the state.

“There are various schemes of the Central government for areas under Left Wing Extremism. The Chief Minister has asked for two more districts to be included in the schemes. I will speak to the Home Minister,” Mukherjee said.

In West Bengal,only West Midnapore district gets the benefits of the integrated plan for Left Wing Extremist-affected districts allotted by the Planning Commission. The state government wants it to be extended to Purulia and Bankura.