Finance department asks other departments to ‘control’ spending to deal with COVID-19 situation

Kolkata: The state finance department had asked all other departments to cut spending as the state government will use the funds to deal with the Covid situation.

“Other departments should not incur additional expenses to buy cars, houses and computers because money would be needed to deal with the pandemic situation,” reads the notice from the finance department.

According to Nabanna State Secretariat sources, before the press conference, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a closed meeting with eight state ministers and asked them to personally check their quarters and resolve the issues. .

“The Chief Minister has asked ministers to personally visit their quarters maintaining all protocols and see the issue of those affected. She also said that if necessary ministers should decide on the need for containment areas there,” the sources said.

Nabanna’s sources also claimed that the Chief Minister has instructed ministers to provide food and medicine to poor and financially distressed families in their neighborhoods to those affected by covid.

Meanwhile, criticizing the state government, BJP State Chairman Sukanta Majumdar said the TMC government was “bankrupt” and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had herself asserted the same thing.

“During the last week of December, by selling alcohol, the state government generated huge revenue and it should use it for the welfare of the people,” Majumdar said.

Posted: Thursday 06 January 2022, 21:05 IST