We share good ties with Centre , says CM

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 16: The Centre-state relation which was deteriorated earlier has been developed completely after UPA government came into power, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said today. Addressing the inauguration programme of an arsenic free drinking water supply project at Mahyampur village in Beldanga block in Murshidabad district today the chief minister said “We have a good relation with the Centre at present”, in presence of the foreign affairs minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee. Both Mr Mukherjee and Mr Bhattacharjee today appeared before the people in this colourful inauguration programme showing an example of a good relation between them, praised each other and bargained requirements for development. Both leaders landed at Barua Football ground by helicopter, four km from the spot and arrived at Mahyampur in a car. “We have to do developmental works altogether forgetting all political issues”, said Mr Pranab Mukherjee. Expressing happiness over the inauguration of arsenic free drinking water treatment plant, Mr. Mukherjee said: “The state public health minister Goutam Deb has ensured me that arsenic free drinking water project; estimated cost of the plant was Rs. 70 crore, at Ragunathganj in Murshidabad will be completed very soon”. Narrating Central government's role for implementing drinking water projects, Mr. Mukherjee said: “During the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi such programmes were taken up but it was discontinued when the NDA government came to power. At present all such developmental programmes are being implemented gradually”. “The government has stressed to resolve the crisis of fresh drinking water and problem of erosion on the banks of Padma and Ganges”, the foreign minister said. According to public health engineering officials, the centre had allotted Rs. 4.87 crore and state had allotted Rs. 1.63 crore for setting up of the arsenic free drinking water project at Mahyampur for people of Beldanga. Another project located at Behrempur town, estimating Rs. 270 crore, is under progress. The chief minister Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said that his government with financial assistance from the centre has planned to provide arsenic free fresh drinking water to 52 lakh people within three years, who are living in arsenic afflicted zone in Murshidabad. According to him, out of 26 blocks in Murshidabad under ground waters are contaminated with arsenic in 19 ones.