West Bengal's debt burden rises 64% in six years

Notably, the present government has been vociferous about the high debt it inherited from the Left Front government

Even as the incumbent Trinamool government in West Bengal has been showcasing its impressive growth figure as one of its biggest achievements, its burgeoning debt burden paints a bleak picture.

West Bengal's outstanding debt increased 64 per cent in the past six years.

Data from the Bengal government Budget document show the outstanding debt of the state was close to Rs 1.86 lakh crore in 2010-11, which increased to Rs 3.05 lakh crore in 2015-16, a growth of 64 per cent. Notably, the present government has been vociferous about the high debt it inherited from the Left Front government.

Amit Mitra, finance minister, West Bengal, has been repeatedly saying that a large part of the government's exchequer goes into servicing the debt left by the previous government.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com