The West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, will meet the Union Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, on May 29 to discuss the financial situation of the State.

According to the new government, the previous government has run up debts to the tune of over Rs 1.86 lakh crore, making it difficult to run day-to-day operations of the State.

The State Finance Minister, Mr Amit Mitra, along with senior officials of the State finance department, will accompany Ms Banerjee to the meeting.

Ms Banerjee added that the State government has been able to make arrangements for payment of salaries and pension of employees for the next three to four months.

On Singur

Referring to the return of 400 acres of land at Singur to unwilling farmers, she said that the State Industry Minister, Mr Partha Chatterjee, had received possession of the agreement between the Tatas and the Left Front government and it would soon be made public.

“The agreement will be made public once the Industry Minister goes through it,” she said after a Cabinet meeting at Writers' Buildings (State Secretariat).

While acknowledging the receipt of a letter from the Tatas, Ms Banerjee said she would reciprocate Mr Ratan Tata's gesture on sending her a congratulatory message by replying to it.

“It is a matter of courtesy,” she said.

New Decisions

Allocation of funds for development of the northern parts of Bengal through the North Bengal Development Council was increased from the existing Rs 60 crore to Rs 200 crore. The decision comes days after her announcement to have a separate Cabinet berth to look after the development of North Bengal.

Ms Banerjee also released a sum of Rs 40 crore as subsidy to provide rice to BPL families at Rs 2 a kg.

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