Bhubneswar, July 29: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday, has put forth a four-point charter of demands before NITI Aayog. CM stresses upon the fulfillment of these as vital for the growth of Odisha, said officials.
Apart from a special category status for Odisha, Naveen has sought expansion of railway infrastructure, banking facilities in rural pockets and telecommunication services in remote areas in the charter, they said.
The CM placed the demands before NITI Aayog vice-chairperson Suman Bery and member Dr Vinod K Paul during their visit to the state.
It was a pleasure meeting @NITIAayog‘s Vice Chairman Shri @suman_bery and member Dr. V K Paul. Highlighted #Odisha’s long standing demands relating to railways, telecom and banking in rural areas, our constant demand for special category status in view of frequent disasters. pic.twitter.com/ylahmVj2xl
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 28, 2022
Justifying his demand for special status, he pointed out that Odisha gets affected by natural calamities like floods and cyclones almost every year. So the calamities cause financial strain on the state exchequer, and, therefore, proper infrastructure in vulnerable areas may reduce economic loss, he told the visiting NITI Aayog delegation.
Bery on his part assured the state government that the think-thank would take necessary measures.
The team also invited Patnaik to the upcoming seventh governing council meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi on August 7, the officials stated.
