Mamata Banerjee Questions Civic Amenities' Effectiveness in West Bengal

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed frustration over the deteriorating civic amenities in West Bengal. During a meeting at the state secretariat, she questioned whether ministers, MLAs, and bureaucrats expected her to personally clean the streets.

Banerjee criticised a minister, a former TMC mayor, and several bureaucrats for their poor performance. She emphasised that officials must look at the ground reality instead of ignoring issues like road conditions and street lights.

Centralised Tender Processes

The Chief Minister announced that all tender processes would be centralised to prevent illegal monetary deals. She revealed that since 2011, the state urban development department had received Rs 51,500 crore.

"The government will not take a bad name for the actions of some individuals. I don’t want master extortionists. I want people’s servants. If they cannot perform, they must leave. In the coming days, only those who work for the people will get tickets to contest elections," she said.

Accountability and Encroachment

Banerjee held Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose accountable for encroachment in Rajarhat near Kolkata. She stated that government property was being encroached upon for money and warned against such activities.

She also accused former Howrah mayor Rathin Chakraborty of ruining the city by allowing illegal buildings near the state secretariat Nabanna. "Rathin Chakraborty ruined Howrah when he was the mayor. Illegal buildings have come up near state secretariat Nabanna. The police and everyone else involved have turned a blind eye to it. Do I have to look after everything?" she questioned.

Performance Reviews

The performance of civic body officials will be reviewed by a team including vigilance department officers, the additional director general of police Law & Order, an additional commissioner of police, officers from the CID, and the Director of Security.

Banerjee also mentioned that multiple interest groups had emerged across the state, causing further complications. She warned that MLAs were taking advantage in municipalities without elected boards.

Protecting Bengal's Identity

The Chief Minister stressed the importance of preserving Bengal's culture and identity. She warned against any attempts to alter it for monetary gain. "We like other cultures too and respect them. I am warning all who are conspiring to alter Bengal's identity. In exchange for money, Bengal's identity should not be destroyed. This is my first and last warning," she said.

Banerjee did not name anyone specifically but cautioned that if such activities continued, Bengal's identity would be lost. "Everyone knows Hindi and English today," she added, clarifying that she was not demeaning any language.

BJP's Response

BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya responded to Banerjee’s remarks by expressing surprise at her sudden realisation of malpractices among her councillors and local leaders. "It appears she was unaware of the wrongdoings till the other day," he said.

Bhattacharya pointed out that illegal building constructions were common knowledge in areas like Lake Town, Salt Lake, and New Town. He suggested that Banerjee’s criticism might be intended for public consumption rather than genuine accountability.

Representatives from two civic bodies—Taherpur in Nadia district and Jhalda in Purulia district—were notably absent from the meeting. Officials indicated they were not invited.

Banerjee also accused sub-divisional officer Amrita Roy Burman of neglecting Bally municipality, which lacks a civic board. She vowed to clean up the entire system before holding fresh elections.

The Chief Minister highlighted that Bengal's true identity had been tarnished and emphasised the need to protect it from being altered for financial gain.