BJD MP Demands Special Economic Package for Speeding up Infrastructural Development of Eastern Region

New Delhi: Odisha’s Biju Janata Dal MP Dr. Sasmit Patra today demanded the Centre a special economic package for speeding up infrastructural development of the Eastern Region.

In a Special Mention today in Rajya Sabha, the BJD MP reiterated Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s demands before Centre as placed in the 24th Eastern Zonal Council Meeting held in Bhubaneswar.

Dr. Patra demanded for focus on Development of Eastern India as key to development of India reiterating the demands placed by Naveen Patnaik in the 24th Eastern Zonal Council Meeting held in Bhubaneswar a few weeks back.

The BJD MP said that development of eastern India is key to the development of the nation.

In the recently concluded 24th Eastern Zonal Council Meeting held in Bhubaneswar; this was the essence provided by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Patra said.

Naveen Patnaik stressed that for National Integration and Creating healthy Inter-State and Centre-State relations, the Integration has to be Financial, Infrastructural, Technological. This would lead and strengthen emotional Integration, he said.

Dr. Patra further emphasized that if a nation-wide analysis is done for Tele-density, Banking density, Rail and Road density; then East Zone would be at the bottom in all these subjects that are in Union List.

Reiterating the demands of CM Naveen Patnaik, he said that there is a need to double the allotments made to this region so that they catch up to the national benchmarks.

This East Zone contributes maximum to the mineral wealth of the Country and in turn manufacturing and energy security of the country. The fruits of this wealth should boost economic growth of this region and its people.

Royalty on Coal has not been revised from 2012. There is an urgent need to revise royalty on Coal and also to share the proceeds of clean Energy cess with the State Government.
Further, he stated that there is a need to provide a Special Economic package for Speeding up Infrastructural Development of the region.

The BJD MP also strongly stressed on the issue that the Union Government works strenuously towards the fulfilment of these demands raised by the Odisha CM at the earliest.