By IANS,
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said here Wednesday that she and state Finance Minister Amit Mitra will meet Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Sunday to discuss the state’s financial condition.
“There will be a meeting between the union finance minister and the state finance minister Sunday as the condition of the state’s funds is very poor. Along with me, the chief secretary and finance secretary will also be present at the meeting,” Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat.
She said the state now can provide salary only for two or three months more.
“We have to look ahead of that. There is no time,” the chief minister said.
She said pension and salaries of all government staff will be paid through cheques from September.
Manish Gupta, minister for planning and development, will represent the state at the planning meeting for the eastern region to be held in Patna Friday.
Banerjee said she has already asked Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia to hold a meeting of the commission in Kolkata for the eastern and north-eastern states.