Mamata unveils development projects in Jangalmahal

Ahead of the assembly polls in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday unveiled several projects for Maoist-affected areas in the state as she hit out at the Centre and the opposition Left Front.

The 'Jalkanya', the state's longest river bridge, was among the projects inaugurated by Banerjee at an event in Nayagram in West Midnapore district.

The 1,472-metre-long bridge, built at a cost of nearly Rs.170 crore over the Subarnarekha river, connects Keshiary with Nayagram in the district.

On the various development projects and scheme initiated by her government, Banerjee described restoration of peace in Jangalmahal -- the Left-wing extremism affected areas of the state -- as her biggest achievement.

Castigating the erstwhile Left Front regime for turning the area into a bloodied zone, Banerjee enumerated the various schemes that brought development and prosperity in the forested stretches of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts -- referred to as Jangalmahal.

Charging the Narendra Modi government at the Centre with financial non-cooperation, Banerjee asserted that her government has continued to dole out benefits to the people at large, despite the union government discontinuing funds for several central schemes.

"We answer all the slander through development," said Banerjee as she attacked the Left Front for its "34 years of misrule".

On the occasion, she also unveiled six super-specialty hospitals at Jhargram, Gopiballavpur, Kakdwip, Bishnupur, Panskura and Baruipur along with a host of other healthcare utility services, major irrigation and embankment strengthening schemes and new police stations among other projects.