Mamata meets Modi, again seeks state debt restructuring, funds

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and again sought the restructuring of the state's debts and release of Rs 8,000 crore due to Bengal under various Centre-sponsored schemes.

During the over 30-minute meeting here, she expressed concern over decreased flow of Atrai river water from Bangladesh into her state, and urged Modi to raise the issue with the neighbouring country.

Banerjee, who has long been seeking a loan waiver for West Bengal, told the media that she again raised the matter with Modi.

"I told the Prime Minister that it is imperative to restructure the debt of several states, particularly West Bengal. Rs 10,500 is due to Bengal under various central schemes, of which we have got only Rs 2,000 crore. I urged him to release the funds at the earliest. He said he will look into the matter."

Banerjee earlier met Modi on April 10 to seek release of funds.

As for the river water issue, she said: "Because Bangladesh has constructed a rubber dam on Atrai river, South Dinajpur is not getting water. On the other hand, there is flood when excess water is released from the dam. This has caused huge problems for our people. I urged the Prime Minister to take up the matter with Bangladesh," Banerjee said.

"Also, Bangladesh has doubled import duty on mangoes, causing distress to Bengal growers. I urged the Prime Minister if he could take up this issue also with the Bangladesh government," she said.

Banerjee also too up with Modi the issue of pollution of Churni river in Nadia district of Bengal due to pollutants flowing in from Bangladesh. Churni is a distributory of the Mathabhanga river originating in Bangladesh.

The Trinamool Congress supremo, who is slated to attend a luncheon meet hosted by Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday, said she had no discussions with Modi on the July presidential election.

--IANS

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