BackCentre must clear outstanding dues of ₹53,000 cr to West Bengal : Mamata to PM
'Regarding Covid-19 vaccine, Centre should authorise which vaccine is to be procured and used. It must issue guidelines in this regard,' said the West Bengal CM to PM Modi
PremiumKolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday raised the issue of West Bengal's financial dues from the Centre during a video conference on the pandemic and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that the Centre issues guidelines on which vaccine to be procured and used to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The video conference was convened by Modi for chief ministers of 10 states, including West Bengal, to discuss the situation arising out of coronavirus in the country.
"The central government has raised the FRBM limit from three per cent to five per cent but only 0.5 per cent out of the increased 2 per cent has been made unconditional. We request the central government to make the remaining 1.5 per cent unconditional too for one year," Banerjee said.
"Besides this, the state is still to receive ₹4135 crore towards GST compensation and overall outstanding dues of ₹53000 crore from the central government," Banerjee was quoted in a media statement issued by the West Bengal government.
"At the start, we'd emphasised on death audits but now it's vindicated that comorbidity is an important element in COVID deaths. 89% of COVID deaths in our state were due to comorbidities like diabetes, cancer, hypertension," said Mamata.
She raised the issue of which COVID-19 vaccine or serum to be used to treat the patients and urged the Centre to issue guidelines regarding it.
"Regarding the vaccine, the central government should authorise which vaccine is to be procured and used. It must issue guidelines in this regard," the statement quoted her.
She also requested the Centre to provide the state with more high flow nasal canulas and ventilators.
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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
