(a) the amount of assistance being provided by the Government to West Bengal alongwith the purpose thereof;
(b) whether the U.K. Government are going to increase this amount in the next two years; and
(c) if so, the amount thereof ?
(a) the amount of assistance being provided by the Government to West Bengal alongwith the purpose thereof;
(b) whether the U.K. Government are going to increase this amount in the next two years; and
(c) if so, the amount thereof ?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI ANANDRAO V. ADSUL)
(a) During 2002-03, an amount of Rs.631.23 crores was provided by Government of India to Government of West Bengal as Additional Central Assistance(ACA) for the Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) and during the current year (2003-04) an amount of Rs.283.50 crores has been released to West Bengal as ACA for EAPs so far.
(b) & (c) The Government of the United Kingdom (U.K.) provides assistance under bilateral development cooperation programme to India. During 2002-03, Government of U.K. had provided assistance of £ 146.09 million to India. U.K. does not allocate bilateral assistance state-wise. U.K. has indicated that they may increase their assistance to India to £ 300 million per annum in future.