Cong urges Mitra to incorporate suggestions in WB Budget

Congress today urged state finance minister Amit Mitra to incorporate its suggestions raised during discussion on the state budget 2015-16 to boost the West Bengal's development and financial health.
Even as the budgeted estimate of own-tax revenue collection for 2015-16 has been pegged at Rs 46,500 crore, an increase of only Rs 1,000 crore from the earlier budget projection, Congress member Manas Bhuniya said the state government could have collected more revenue for sound financial health.
More revenue collection could have also helped to expedite various development programmes for benefit of the people, he said.
Besides, Bhuniya asked Mitra about the details on the estimate of 14th Finance Commission, which has been worked out for West Bengal and the special package for the state as has been announced in the Union Budget 2015-16.

The Congress member also criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's decision to skip various meetings of chief ministers in Delhi, besides the meeting of National Development Council (NDC), saying the state was suffering from this.
He also suggested the government at least reduce the gap of pending Dearness Allowances to government employees.
Describing the Budget as a well intended one with some serious measures, GJM member Harka Bahadur Chhetri said the Hill Affairs department should now be replaced with GTA, since the GTA was looking after the matters now.
Trianmool Congress member Akhil Giri said had there been no debt burden imposed on the state by the erstwhile LF regime, the TMC government would not have taken further loan.