Mamata pulls up ministers

A number of ministers in the West Bengal government were today pulled up by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for tardy pace in execution of work.
Banerjee, who held a three hour meeting with ministers and department secretaries, pulled up PWD minister Sudarshan Ghoshdastidar and some senior ministers, dissatisfied with their work, according to insiders.
"If you can't do it you can leave ministership," the Chief Minister, who was quoted by insiders, told another minister holding a key portfolio.
Banerjee, who recently met industry honchos, including Mukesh Ambani at Mumbai and invited them to invest in the state, was also reportedly annoyed at the way in which matters relating to industry were being handled.

She stressed that for industry to invest in the state, infrastructure has to be strengthened and was very critical about the pitiable condition of roads in the metropolis.
Banerjee also spoke about healthcare, drinking water availability, special drive on food for work programme, minority development projects, distribution of kisan credit cards and speedy implementation of the Kanyashree programme for the girl child, a minister attending the meeting said.

The Chief Minister announced that from September 10, she would visit the districts for review meetings.
In some places work was stalled for four months because officials were deputed for the recent panchayat elections.

"The work which had suffered delay will have to be completed," Banerjee told reporters after the meeting.
"We reviewed the amount disbursed for different projects and where work was pending," she said.