Kolkata, 18 May (H.S.): The West Bengal government will present the state’s full budget next month with priority being given to resolving the drinking water crisis and conducting long-pending municipal corporation and civic body elections, state minister Agnimitra Paul confirmed it.

Paul, who holds the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Women and Child Development and Social Welfare portfolios, said several development projects remained incomplete during the previous Trinamool Congress government due to inadequate monitoring and administrative lapses. She said all pending municipal projects and unfinished development works would now be reviewed and investigated.

The minister stated that the Jal Jeevan Mission and AMRUT 3 schemes would also undergo a detailed review to ensure faster relief to people facing drinking water shortages and to establish a long-term solution to the crisis across the state.

Highlighting the issue of delayed civic elections, Agnimitra Paul said the state government, following the Chief Minister’s instructions, would soon conduct pending municipal corporation and municipality polls. She pointed out that elections to the Durgapur Municipal Corporation have remained pending since September 2022, while the current board of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation will complete its term later this year. Elections to the civic bodies of Asansol, Howrah and 106 other municipalities are scheduled for next year.

She said holding the elections would strengthen the administrative structure and accelerate development activities across urban areas of the state.

The minister was speaking after an administrative review meeting held in Asansol under the chairmanship of West Burdwan District Magistrate S. Ponnambalam. Issues related to water supply, roads, sanitation and infrastructure development were discussed in detail during the meeting, which was attended by all nine BJP MLAs from the district.

Paul also directed officials to identify illegal commercial buildings and initiate strict action against encroachments and illegal parking in market areas. She instructed the administration to develop proper parking infrastructure and publicly display parking rate charts for citizens.

Emphasising action against illegal occupation of government land, the minister said rehabilitation measures for affected poor families should also be ensured alongside eviction drives.

She further directed the police administration to intensify action against illegal businesses, including coal, sand, cattle and scrap iron smuggling. Referring to incidents of post-poll violence after the 2021 Assembly elections, Paul said those cases would be reinvestigated and strict action would be taken against those found guilty.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh