The budgetary grant of Rs 1,000 crore by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to the state government for relief and reconstruction of the Aila-devastated areas of Sunderbans has left the Congress ally Trinamool unhappy. 

Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee has been exerting pressure on the Centre against granting funds to the state claiming these would be misused by the LF government.

“Cyclone Aila caused extensive damage to roads, houses and infrastructure in Benga. While interim relief has been provided from the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF), it is proposed to draw up a programme for

rebuilding the damaged infrastructure. For this purpose, I propose to allocate Rs 1,000 crore,” Mukherjee said in his Budget speech.

 Sisir Adhikary, Trinamool MP and MoS for Rural development, said: “The Budget was fine, but we are unhappy with the Rs 1,000 crore given to the CPM government. Now this money will go into the CPM’s pocket and will not reach the needy.”

“Already the state government claimed to have spent

Rs 480 crore in Aila-affected areas, but failed to give utilisation certificates. This Rs 1,000 crore will be completely wasted,” added Adhikary.

The issue of fund allocation for relief and rehabilitation of the Aila-devastated areas has been the bone of contention between the ruling CPM and the Trinamool. Mamata Banerjee wanted the money to be handed over to Zilla Parishads or panchayat bodies. She had raised the issue with Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last month.

“I will not like to say anything on the Budget,” said Partho Chatterjee, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

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