Kolkata, Jun 18 (PTI) West Bengal minister Pulak Roy on Wednesday said the state government was facing difficulties in supplying piped water to households under the 'Jal Jeevan Mission' due to “non-release of pending dues by the Centre”.
The Centre has not released Bengal's dues to the tune of Rs 2,254 crore under the project, Public Health Engineering Minister Pulak Roy told the assembly.
He was replying to a question by TMC MLA Tapasi Mondal about the pace of progress of the scheme’s implementation in the state.
Mondal had been elected on a BJP ticket from Haldia in the 2021 assembly elections, but switched to the TMC earlier this year.
"Despite discrimination by the central government, the state is working with its limited capacity and has mobilised Rs 457 crore so that drinking water reaches every household, and most importantly, to those belonging to the poor and economically disadvantaged sections," the minister said.
To an allegation by BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul that Rs 500 was being demanded for every piped water connection in panchayat and municipal areas, Roy said “the state government has no such information”.
“But, if the respected member has any specific information, she is urged to file an FIR," he added.