West Bengal govt cuts PWD funds by 60% to fund welfare schemes

The Mamata Banerjee authorities in West Bengal has determined to spend cash on social welfare schemes by deducting funds from ‘unnecessary’ actions like repairing and constructing new roads and bridges. In order to chop prices, the state authorities has introduced a drastic 60% reduce within the funds for the PWD division.
The state’s funds are badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown, and the CM has repeatedly spoken about decreasing prices. As a part of such cost-cutting measures, the Public Works (Roads) Directorate issued a notification on August 26, ordering a 59.55% reduce within the funds of assorted street schemes. Even after slicing the funds, the officers have been requested to additional cut back varied road-related actions to chop prices.
The complete funds for PWD and PWRD has been reduce virtually 60% from ₹4618 crore to ₹2750 crore, a reduce of ₹1868 crore.
The funds for street works of South, West and North zone has been lowered from ₹1183 crore, ₹1335.72 crore and ₹581.94 crore to ₹700 crore, ₹795 crore and ₹395 crore, every discount of 59.55%. Similarly, the funds for widespread schemes below PWRD, previous and new bridges below PWD & PWRD, utility shifting and street works of PWD have been reduce by 59.55%.
BJP chief Suvendu Adhikari posted a duplicate of the notification ordering funds reduce in PWD on Twitter. He mentioned that the WB govt is forcing the PWD division to bear the brunt as a result of the government has gone bankrupt. He questioned if growth has taken a backseat in Bengal.

WB Govt maneuvering by way of chapter, is forcing PWD to bear the brunt. Even 60% discount in funds for roads just isn’t sufficient as officers are being requested to make additional restrictions.Development takes a backseat?WB Govt’s model new scheme:”Duare Garta” (Potholes @ doorstep). pic.twitter.com/iWVudUEQzS— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) September 15, 2021
However, funds reduce just isn’t the one measure taken by the Mamata Banerjee authorities to chop prices. The authorities has requested to keep away from widening roads so far as potential, just about stopping any street widening venture. The order additionally asks to transform ‘strengthening estimates’ to ‘surfacing estimates’ if possible. This means roads that had been alleged to be strengthened will now solely get a recent layer on their prime, with out strengthening the muse of the roads.
The govt has additionally requested the officers to ship the estimates of these roads first that are in unhealthy situation.
This order to chop the PWD funds comes after the state authorities had introduced the ‘Lakshmi Bhandar’ scheme, the state’s largest money switch scheme to ladies. The Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme goals to financially empower ladies aged between 25 and 60 from decrease socio-economic lessons who will not be employed in authorities or the personal sector. According to the scheme introduced by the Mamata Banerjee authorities, ₹1000 shall be given to feminine heads of SC and ST households, whereas ₹500 shall be given to ladies who head normal caste households. It is attention-grabbing that whereas Mamata Banerjee has been direct money switch schemes of the central govt, the cash below this scheme shall be paid by way of direct financial institution switch to the beneficiaries.