Will take up Ganga erosion with Centre: Mamata Banerjee

She expressed concern over the problem of erosion but lobbed the issue into the central government's court

The West Bengal government will take up with the central government the problem of erosion caused by the Ganga and Padma rivers, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday.

Addressing a meeting at Baharampur in Murshidabad district, Banerjee expressed concern over the problem of erosion but lobbed the issue into the central government's court.

"Ganga erosion is a major and perennial problem in the district. But this matter is under the jurisdiction of the Centre. I have told the Chief Secretary (Basudeb Bandopadhyay) to talk to the central government."

This was Banerjee's first meeting in Murshidabad after the ruling Trinamool Congress wrested control of almost all local bodies in the district over the past couple of months, by causing desertions from the Congress and Left parties.

The Trinamool now controls the Murshidabad Zilla Parishad, the topmost level of the three-tier panchayat or local body system.

Banerjee said that even 69 years after independence, Murshidabad lacked a proper drainage and conservancy systems. It had a shortage of schools while the bidi workers lived in abysmal condition.

Bringing up the problem of trafficking of women, Banerjee said: "We have to stop this. We have to stop cattle smuggling also. We have to restore Murshidabad to its past glory."

Murshidabad was the capital of erstwhile Bengal in the 18th century under the Nawabs.

Attacking the opposition, Banerjee said they should try to complete "one per cent of the work which I have done" before criticising her.