Didi prod on rural projects

AVIJIT SINHA, TT, Siliguri: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday instructed administrative officials in Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar to expedite the process of implementing development projects and welfare schemes in rural areas.

"The panchayat elections will be held next year. You should not wait till the end of the current fiscal. You should put in efforts to meet the target of all social welfare schemes and projects related to infrastructure development like rural roads by January next year," Mamata told the officials at a review meeting of the three districts in Uttarkanya in Siliguri.

Through the meeting, the chief minister's focus was on schemes meant for rural areas like 100 days' work, rural road development, skill training, drinking water facilities in villages and tea estates, Kanyashree, compensation to victims of elephant depredation and so on.

"Why is the average number of days for which work has been provided under the 100 days' work scheme only 29 in Cooch Behar? The administration and elected representatives should ensure that it reaches 50 at the earliest," she said, as Kaushik Saha, the district magistrate of Cooch Behar, presented a report.

Even as officials stood up to explain the status of the projects, she passed on instructions to fast-track their implementation.

"She made it clear that there should be no delay in meeting the targets. This shows that her focus is now on the rural polls, which will be the last major elections in the state ahead of the 2019 parliamentary polls. She does not want to take any chances in these districts, where the BJP has been consolidating its base," said an observer.