Six MlAs of Bastar Division on Tuesday met Governor Balramji Das Tandon at Raj Bhavan and handed over memorandums regarding various issues. The MlAs, who met the Governor, were namely Devti Karma, lakheshwar Baghel, Manoj Singh Mandavi, Santram Netam, Mohan Markaam, and Deepak Baij.
As these MlAs had come from remote tribal populated Bastar region, Tandon had given them prior appointment for the meeting. Despite his ill health and doctor's advice to take rest, he met the delegation of MlAs, officials stated. The Governor discussed with them about the State Government's efforts and initiatives for development of Bastar region.
He said that peaceful development of each and every area of Bastar is the top-priority of both State and Central Government.
Tandon said that in democracy, urban administration and police should respect and consider the views of public representatives, irrespective of the political party they come from.
The Governor assured them that a special investigation of the lathi-charge incident will be conducted. Notably in February last year, the Chhattisgarh Government has proposed that the Centre should undertake the “Bastar Plan” for its integrated development on both economic and security fronts.
Chief Minister Raman Singh had also raised the issue of reimbursement under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme and demanded the deployment of five additional CRPF Battalions, officials informed. This was following the visit of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who was on a two-day visit of Chhattisgarh on May 30 and 31 last year.
The Union Minister during his visit had reviewed the anti-lWE Operations and the development agenda with the Chief Minister Raman Singh and senior officials of the Central and State Government.
Notably, the Central government last year had also approved a revised cost of Rs 3,045 crore under its Road Requirement Plan (RRP) for improvement of road connectivity in left Wing Extremism (lWE) affected areas of Chhattisgarh.
Overall, the Centre has approved a Road Requirement Plan (RRP) for improvement of road connectivity in left Wing Extremism (lWE) affected areas of a total of 34 districts in 8 States covering 5477 km length (1126 km NHs & 4351 km State Roads).
In Chhattisgarh, the fund had been approved for improvement of road connectivity in left Wing Extremism (lWE) affected areas measuring 2019 kms.
As per details of Physical Progress achieved as on March 1, 2015 under RRP, the length of road completed between 2010-11 to 2014-15 in the insurgency infested areas in Chhattisgarh upto February 28,2015 is 868 kms. As per the State-wise details of fund allocated and expenditure incurred under lWE scheme, Chhattisgarh made expenditure of Rs 190 crore between 2010-11 to 2014-15 upto February 28, 2015.
Notably, last year, the Central government had simplified the procedure for offering general approval under Section-2 of Central Forest Conservation Act 1980, keeping in view the need of infrastructural development for public utility.
This implied that general approval for construction of roads on forest land in a total of ten left Wing Extremism (lWE) affected districts of Chhattisgarh will now be granted easily, official informed .
As per the simplified procedure, the general approval for construction of two-lane highways on forest land will be given by State Government itself.
In this context, Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand had issued a circular to Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of all the departments and also to the Divisional Commissioners and District Collectors.