Kolkata: The Bengal government's upcoming budget will chart a roadmap to address the state's economic crisis, finance minister Swapan Dasgupta stated on Wednesday, just days before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government presents its first budget in the state assembly on June 22.
Dasgupta emphasized that the state government cannot continue functioning under an enormous debt burden indefinitely. He highlighted that the first budget of his government would prioritize infrastructure development as a key driver of economic growth and fiscal stability.
The finance minister was in Delhi on Wednesday, where he met Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and NITI Aayog vice chairman Ashok Lahiri to discuss issues concerning the state's fiscal health and economy.
"We want to work in cooperation with the Centre. Bengal did not avail several central projects. Additionally, some central projects were left unfinished. I have discussed these issues with the Union finance minister to gain clarity on the Centre's plans and priorities," Dasgupta added.
Regarding his meeting with Lahiri, Dasgupta remarked: "Ashok Lahiri is well acquainted with Bengal's political and economic landscape. He understands what needs to be done and where intervention is required."
Talking about his plans for the state budget, Dasgupta said: "I can assure you that this budget will be a serious exercise. Infrastructure lies at the heart of economic revival, and it will receive significant emphasis in our budget."
Stating that the BJP government in Bengal is pro-business, the finance minister asserted that the current administration is different from the governments Bengal has seen over the past 50 years. "We will emphasize people's income, expansion of industries, and flow of investment from different sources," he said.
The finance minister further noted that some allowances may be required. "In Sankalp Patra we made some promises; we have kept those. In future, our target is to make Bengal a more robust and progressive economy," he added.
