Funds diversion in Bengal under radar

On the very first day of taking charge as minister of state for urban development, Congress MP Deepa Dasmunsi, a vocal critic of Trinamool leader and West Bengal chief minister Mamta Banerjee clearly laid down her agenda.

On the very first day of taking charge as minister of state for urban development, Congress MP Deepa Dasmunsi, a vocal critic of Trinamool leader and West Bengal chief minister Mamta Banerjee clearly laid down her agenda.

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"One of my topmost priorities would be to take up the issue of diversion of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) funds released by the Centre for West Bengal. Though funds have been released it is obvious that they have not been used for the projects for which they were meant. Many projects sanctioned under JNNURM have not taken off. I intend to find out where the funds have been diverted," Dasmunsi said.

Dasmunsi said the low floor buses sanctioned under JNNURM is a stark example of how funds have been misused.

"If you go to West Bengal you will see these modern low floor buses standing idle in the sheds. Many owners have sold the buses. Even the slum development projects have not been properly implemented," she said.

The MoS had a busy schedule on her first day at work. Apart from meeting hordes of visitors who thronged her cabin at Nirman Bhawan, she also went to attend the lunch hosted by PM Manmohan Singh for the visiting Bangladesh opposition leader Khaleda Zia.

Meanwhile, the Congress accused the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal of not showing any courtesy to the three MPs from the state inducted into the Union council of ministers. Congress' Manas Bhunia said the reaction expressed by seasoned Trinamool leaders was "shocking.