Uplift the key word in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA Feb. 8: - The divisional commissioner Jalpaiguri, Mr B L Meena, has suggested Malda district officials to prepare another infrastructure development project with unspent fund of Rs 1 crore allotted for the Laxmipur drainage project in English Bazaar. The fund has been lying idle since long. Mr Meena held a review meeting yesterday with Malda district officials to learn about the status of the developmental projects sponsored by the Uttar Banga Unnayan Parishad and took such a decision as the Malda officials were not in a position to show utilisation certificate for the Laxmipur drainage scheme. District officials said: “The divisional commissioner had clearly said that UBNP would not allot fund for acquisition of land for implementing the Laxmipur drainage scheme. The UBNP fund would be allotted only for infrastructure development of a district.” It may be noted that at least Rs 2.5 crore was required to acquire land for implementing the Laxmipur drainage scheme in English Bazaar but there was no such fund to acquire land for the project sanctioned by the UBNP. The UBUP had allotted Rs 1 crore for the proposed drainage scheme but no fund was allotted to acquire the required land. Moreover, the administration could not acquire land due to various hurdles and objections raised by Opposition political parties, officials said. Malda district administration officials added that they would prepare another development scheme soon to utilise the unspent fund allotted for the Laxmipur drainage scheme. The district magistrate has convened an all-party meeting on the Laxmipur drainage project to adopt a resolution on the issue, the officials informed.