In a step that is first of its kind, the Union Cabinet Secretariat will have a review for enhancing closer cooperation and coordination of the Centre with the States through consultations and structured interaction with the States.
This appears to be part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s larger agenda to take the States on board while dealing with crucial developmental issues.
The Cabinet Secretariat would review the crucial issues concerning Odisha on Wednesday, said an official source, adding that Union Secretary, Coordination in the Cabinet Secretariat Satish Balaram Agnihotri has written to the Odisha Government in this regard.
The concerned authorities in the State have been geared up to project the urgent and crucial issues of the State to the Centre, the source said. Chief Secretary JK Mohapatra and Development Commissioner AP Padhi have begun consultations with the senior officials of various development departments on the pending crucial issues needing urgent attention.
Major issues, which have found the mention in the letters of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to the Prime Minister and Union Ministers would be taken up during the interaction through videoconferencing between the State administration and the Cabinet Secretariat, said officials.
Topics like not to make Polavaram a national project and revision of royalties on minerals would figure in the discussions with the top Cabinet Secretariat officials.
Besides, alternative allocation of a coalmine in favour of the Odisha Thermal Power Corporation limited (OTPCl) would be taken up. The Union Ministry of Coal has allocated the Tentuloi coal block, which has hardly 1.235 million tonnes of deposit that is much less keeping the requirement of the OPTCl.
Allowing Fly Dubai to run its international flights between Bhubaneswar and Dubai is also in the cards for discussion. Though the Bhubaneswar airport has been announced an international one but till date the Union Government has not allowed any international flights to operate from the airport.
Carving out three new Railway Divisions at Jharsuguda or Rourkela, Jajpur-Keonjhar Road and Rayagada under the East Coast Railway would also be urged during the discussions.