Naveen Demands Special Economic Package for Eastern Region to Speed Up Infrastructural Development

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today demanded the Center to give a Special Economic Package for the eastern region states to speed up the process of infrastructure development. He was speaking at the 24th Eastern Zonal Council Meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by the Chief Ministers of West Bengal and Bihar. Jharkhand is represented by its finance minister.

Highlighting the contribution of the eastern states to the country’s economy, Naveen said this 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.

He also reiterated the demand for revision of coal royalty at the meeting. He said “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.”

Specifying some of the issues that concern the eastern states, Naveen said “If a nationwide analysis is done for Teledensity, Banking density Rail and Road density, East Zone would be at the bottom in all these subjects that are in Union List. There is a need to double the allotments made to this region so that they catch up to the national benchmarks.”

Thanking the Union Government for supporting the state during Cyclone Fani, Naveen said “Taking the frequency of natural disasters faced by Odisha into consideration, “Vulnerability to Natural Calamity” should be taken as criteria to declare Odisha as a “Special Focus State”.

He also highlighted the issues such as delay in release of Grants to Urban Local Bodies and non-release of subsidy of paddy procurement causing serious issues to farmers. He also highlighted that the state provides 50% of funds and land free of cost in important railway projects but the progress has been very slow.

Naveen also demanded for inclusion of Ho, Bhumij and Mundari languages in the Eighth Schedule of Constitution.

In his welcome address at the meeting , Naveen said “I am thankful to Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji for providing us an opportunity to host the meeting in Odisha, the land of Lord Jagannath. One of the prime objectives of Zonal Councils is National Integration and Create healthy Inter State and Centre State relations. Integration has to be Financial, Infrastructural, Technological, so it leads and strengthens emotional Integration.”