Kolkata: The state govt has garnered a revenue of Rs 567.82 crore accounting to a rise of nearly 33% during the corresponding period last year. The collection during the period from April 16 to Aug 15 was Rs 428.20 crore last year that rose by Rs 139.62 crore this year.Birbhum has recorded the state’s highest mineral revenue collection during the first four months of the BJP govt. According to administrative sources, Birbhum collected Rs 235 crore in mineral revenue that primarily includes sand, stone and coal, the highest in the state. Officials attributed the rise primarily to strict police surveillance and administrative intervention.Jhargram ranked second, collecting Rs 70.29 crore during the period, followed by East Burdwan with Rs 56.12 crore. Bankura contributed Rs 53.06 crore to the state exchequer through mineral revenue, while West Burdwan collected Rs 48.59 crore.CM Suvendu Adhikari had earlier blamed irregularities and corruption under the previous govt for the alleged loss of revenue. He claimed that the state had lost around Rs 1,000 crore annually in Birbhum over the past 15 years, amounting to nearly Rs 15,000 crore. He said the money could have been used to build schools and hospitals and generate employment.The CM had earlier claimed that the state had collected only Rs 60 crore in revenue from Birbhum’s stone industry in an entire year, while Rs 83 crore was collected within a month of his taking oath on May 9.
