Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Tuesday that she will visit Murshidabad in the first week of May to assess the situation on the ground.
Addressing the recent riots in Murshidabad, she described the incidents as "unfortunate," stating, "The violence occurred in two wards and was instigated by some outsiders with the support of a few local individuals. We will identify and expose those responsible."
Speaking at a public event to inaugurate a 125 MW solar photovoltaic plant in Goaltore, West Medinipur district, the chief minister added, "We have sanctioned Rs 10 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives in the violence. The state government will also take full responsibility for the education of their children. I will personally visit the area in early May to resolve the matter."
The chief minister also assured that the houses that are broken will be reconstructed under ‘Banglar Bari’. “We are assessing the loss of shops and property. Government will do what can be done,” she added.
The Chief Minister was referring to the wave of violence that erupted in Murshidabad during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act. The unrest resulted in three fatalities and left several people injured, leading the Calcutta High Court to order the deployment of central forces. In addition to the casualties, several vehicles, including police vans, were set ablaze, roads were blocked, and stones were hurled at security personnel.
Taking a swipe at the BJP-led central government, the chief minister said, “They are withholding funds for the 100 days’ work scheme. Some people went to submit a deputation to the President regarding this. Now, FIRs have been filed against them, and Delhi Police is summoning them. Even those who went to the Election Commission to submit a memorandum are facing cases.”
Meanwhile, Banerjee on Tuesday inaugurated a solar energy park in Goaltore, a village in the Garhbeta II CD block of the Medinipur Sadar subdivision in Paschim Medinipur district. The solar PV power plant, set up with a total investment of Rs 750 crore, marks a significant step toward sustainable energy in the state.
Of the total investment, Rs 150 crore (20%) has been contributed by the West Bengal government, while the remaining Rs 600 crore (80%) is being funded by the German development bank KfW.
The project was executed under a turnkey Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract, which also includes five years of operation and maintenance.
The plant has a capacity of 125 MW, with a Capacity Utilisation Factor (CUF) of 18.50%. It is expected to export approximately 202.069 million units (MUs) of electricity annually to the grid. The levelized tariff for the project has been set at Rs 3.31 per kWh.