SME Times News Bureau | 24 Apr, 2013
Reiterating that central government assistance is necessary for the debt-stressed West Bengal, industry lobby Assocham Tuesday said the centre should grant Rs.20,000 crore development-linked package to the state as its financial "problem is more serious than Bihar".
"West Bengal should be given Rs.20,000 crore development-linked package to enable it get over the financial crisis," Assocham secretary general D.S. Rawat said in Kolkata.
"We have welcomed the central government's decision to give Rs.12,000 crore as special package for Bihar. West Bengal deserves Rs.20,000 crore. Here the problem is more serious than Bihar," Rawat said.
The Assocham secretary general said it was very evident that Bengal did not generate enough revenue -- tax and even non-tax -- to cover its salary and pension bill.
"In this situation, you cannot run the state," he said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier accused the centre of "political discrimination" and "depriving" her cash-strapped state after the central cabinet approved a special package of Rs.12,000 crore for Bihar.
