Centre reviews developmental works in LWE affected States

Odisha Channel Bureau New Delhi, Feb 9: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the developmental projects relating to roads, bridges, railway lines, mobile towers, post offices, banking infrastructure, education, health, radio and TV connectivity and forest and environmental clearances in Left Wing Extremism affected States of Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Odisha and Maharashtra here today.Singh mentioned that the Bastar region requires special attention for early completion of developmental projects and a coordinated action for tackling LWE problems in the area.He highlighted the long pending problem of extremism in the area and assured the States of necessary central assistance.Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways & Shipping Nitin Gadkari; Minister for Communications & Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad; Minister for Human Resource Development Smriti Irani; Minister for Railways Suresh Prabhu; Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary; and Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore attended the meeting.The Union Ministers heard the views of the respective State Governments and assured the necessary assistance to them.They also highlighted their concern regarding the requirement of funds for these projects.It was agreed that the Maoist affected States in general and Bastar region in particular required special assistance from the centre and the Government of India may consider necessary relaxations in the policies and schemes for the development of these areas.Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh mentioned that about 700 kms of sanctioned roads remain to be completed in the State in addition to the construction of two major bridges.About 900 sites for mobile towers have been finalised and the approximately the same number of sites are still to be finalised.The issue of opening more post offices and banking infrastructure in the LWE affected areas was also highlighted in the meeting.He also brought out the need for installing higher capacity TV / radio stations including FM radio stations for better connectivity in the Bastar region.The requirement of more schools with residential facilities was also highlighted.Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also highlighted the issue of pending road works of about 150 kms and the work of Indirawati bridge awarded in January last year.He also raised the issue of construction work of laying railway track in the LWE affected areas.Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Odisha and Telangana also highlighted the developmental projects pending in their States and necessary central assistance required for their early clearances and completions.