Friday, July 14, 2006
Prime Minister is reported to have sounded positive consideration on NIS request by Naveen -- New India Press
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Friday July 14 2006 09:34 IST
BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday reiterated the demand for extending the Revised Long Term Action Plan (RLTAP) being implemented in KBK districts to the Eleventh Five Year Plan. Naveen raised the issue during his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.
He said while the RLTAP had a positive impact on the living condition of the people of the area, continuance of the programme is imperative for improving the human development indicators in the KBK region, which is one of the poorest region in the country.
The Chief Minister expressed concern over reports that the Centre is considering to discontinue the programme after the 10th Five Year Plan on the ground that the development needs of the area would be addressed by the newly-formulated Backward Region Grant Fund Scheme (BRGFS).
He maintained that the RLTAP has enabled major interventions at the regional-level for food security, health services, rural connectivity and literacy drive. This would not be possible under the new scheme, he said.
The Vijayawada-Ranchi Security Corridor proposal, which has already been approved by the Planning Commission and ministries of Home Affairs and Road Transport, was also raised by the Chief Minister.
Requesting the Prime Minister to clear the proposal, Naveen said the proposed highway, which would pass through the extremist-affected states of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand, would enable better policing and improve the economic lot of the people.
Besides, Naveen iterated the demand for establishment of a National Institute of Science (NIS) in Bhubaneswar for which 75 acres of land have been identified by the State Government.
The proposal was dropped on the ground that the University Grants Commission is not competent to set up such institutes.
The Chief Minister demanded that the proposal should be revived and a NIS set up a la centres in Pune and Kolkata through the Human Resources Development Ministry. The Prime Minister is reported to have sounded positive consideration.
