The Centre has allocated 8,750 crore rupees for the development of 11 backward districts of West Bengal in the 12th Five Year plan.

This was disclosed by Member Secretary of the Planning Commission Sudha Pillai in Kolkata yesterday. She said out of allocated money under Backward Region Grant Fund, over 2,250 crore rupees has already been released.

Ms. Pillai had a meeting with the State Administration to review the progress of the developmental work in the backward region of the state and stressed the need for preparing of a comprehensive plan to implement rural housing, sanitation, irrigation, and electricity schemes.