Muhith for early exploitation of coal reserves in N Bengal
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
FE Report
Finance Minister AMA Muhith Tuesday laid emphasis on taking immediate steps for extracting coal from mines located in northern districts and sought cooperation in this respect from people of that region. The finance minister, speaking at a pre-budget meeting with the North Bengal Development Forum (NBDF) at a city hotel, said, "We have to extract coal. Representatives of the North Bengal area can play a vital role in this connection." "People of the region can be benefited through the extraction of coal," he added. The government will give a new deadline on 'coal policy' by extending it from June next, Muhith said. The government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Ruppur nuclear power plant, he added. Phulbari and Barapukuria coal mines could be developed if the government got support of the people of North Bengal, the finance minister said. In the meeting, policymakers and businessmen of North Bengal area urged the government to avoid measures that discriminate against North Bengal. Insufficient allocation of government funds, and non-availability of sufficient gas and power have also triggered resentments among the people of the region, they said. They have demanded a separate provincial system to decentralise the government's policy making wings. The finance minister said he prefers 'district government' for balancing development work rather than provincial government. He said the Prime Minister is also very positive on formation of 'district government'. "I have tried to prepare district budget but the move did not succeed due to some theoretical opposition which is not acceptable," Muhith said. Muhith came down heavily on the Petrobangla saying that development in gas sector has been poor in the last two and a half years. Petrobangla Chairman Hossain Mansur said the government has stopped providing new gas connections which also slowed down the exploration work. He urged the finance minister to give instruction on providing gas supply to North Bengal area and allow new gas connections to industries. "North Bengal region gets only 82 mmcft gas out of 2000 mmcft. Industrialisation of the region faced a setback due to insufficient energy supply," he said. Muhith said the government will keep some provision to develop the poor Rangpur area. Muhith said the representatives of the region have taken a delayed step to make the government aware of their problems and proposals for next budget. "I have received some proposals which will be considered after my discussion with the PM," he said. Parliament members of the area urged the finance minister to take steps for salvaging the silk industry of the region.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith Tuesday laid emphasis on taking immediate steps for extracting coal from mines located in northern districts and sought cooperation in this respect from people of that region. The finance minister, speaking at a pre-budget meeting with the North Bengal Development Forum (NBDF) at a city hotel, said, "We have to extract coal. Representatives of the North Bengal area can play a vital role in this connection." "People of the region can be benefited through the extraction of coal," he added. The government will give a new deadline on 'coal policy' by extending it from June next, Muhith said. The government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Ruppur nuclear power plant, he added. Phulbari and Barapukuria coal mines could be developed if the government got support of the people of North Bengal, the finance minister said. In the meeting, policymakers and businessmen of North Bengal area urged the government to avoid measures that discriminate against North Bengal. Insufficient allocation of government funds, and non-availability of sufficient gas and power have also triggered resentments among the people of the region, they said. They have demanded a separate provincial system to decentralise the government's policy making wings. The finance minister said he prefers 'district government' for balancing development work rather than provincial government. He said the Prime Minister is also very positive on formation of 'district government'. "I have tried to prepare district budget but the move did not succeed due to some theoretical opposition which is not acceptable," Muhith said. Muhith came down heavily on the Petrobangla saying that development in gas sector has been poor in the last two and a half years. Petrobangla Chairman Hossain Mansur said the government has stopped providing new gas connections which also slowed down the exploration work. He urged the finance minister to give instruction on providing gas supply to North Bengal area and allow new gas connections to industries. "North Bengal region gets only 82 mmcft gas out of 2000 mmcft. Industrialisation of the region faced a setback due to insufficient energy supply," he said. Muhith said the government will keep some provision to develop the poor Rangpur area. Muhith said the representatives of the region have taken a delayed step to make the government aware of their problems and proposals for next budget. "I have received some proposals which will be considered after my discussion with the PM," he said. Parliament members of the area urged the finance minister to take steps for salvaging the silk industry of the region.