Bengal gives Rs 10k cr-15k cr power subsidy annually: CM
Times of India | 20 May 2025
Siliguri/Kolkata: State govt was giving Rs 10,000 crore-15,000 crore as subsidy every year for electricity, CM Mamata Banerjee said following a request by a north Bengal businessman to cut the power tariff.The CM pointed out that the state had not revised the tariff for the last 10 years, which resulted in a huge subsidy. "In contrast, the power utility for Kolkata and Howrah has revised the power tariff during these years," she added.Banerjee said the state had not got Rs 1.7 lakh crore in dues from Union govt. "We cannot give everything at a time when we are not getting legitimate dues from the Centre. We did not even get money for the 100-day work scheme," she added.According to her, funds had been withheld for housing projects, panchayat roads and flood relief. "Will the money come from thin air?" the CM said, adding: "I will write to the Centre to demand an end to harassment over GST and toll issues. I have to run my schemes."Speaking on national unity, following the terrorist attack that left 26 people dead, Banerjee said: "I support the country on the Pahalgam issue. Bengal stands united — Bengal is my pride." She said when the security of the country was in question, she would always support the Centre because that was what her guardians had taught her.