Chief Minister Raman Singh on Wednesday announced that an energy park will be developed at a cost of Rs 50 lakh in Narayanpur district headquarters of insurgency-infested Bastar region.
The Chief Minister on his visit to the insurgency-infested region also once again gave a clarion call to the Maoists to join the mainstream of the society.
There will be progress only when there is peace, he said, adding, 'there will not be development if schools, hostels and hospitals are damaged. The bullet from the gun only takes out a life of a human being.'
Singh assured the outlaws that they will be provided with all the benefits of State Government's social welfare schemes.
He was addressing a mammoth convention of Panchs-Sarpanchs and farmers at district headquarters town of Narayanpur.
The Chief Minister on the occasion laid foundation stones and dedicated 39 developmental works worth Rs 7.65 crore and sanctioned ten public-utility works worth Rs 45 crore.
The Chief Minister also sanctioned Rs 24 crore for solar energy-based irrigation pumps to 500 farmers, Rs 50 lakh for expanding electricity distribution network in Narayanpur town, Rs 40 lakh to develop sports facilities in the town, Rs Six crore each to construct 33/ 11 k.v. electric sub-stations at Orchcha and Atabeda.
He sanctioned two specialist doctors' posts and two ambulances at Narayanpur town.
Singh announced Rs five crore to upgrade roads in the town and Rs 60 lakh for the beautification of hill temple.
He also distributed cycles to the school girls under the Saraswati Cycle Yojana.
Singh added that tribal-dominated Narayanpur district is creating history in the field of development.
Referring to the 'Sour Sujla' yojana launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday at Raipur, he said that anybody who applies for the scheme will be provided with solar energy-based irrigation pumps on a priority basis in the district.
Citizens residing in the remote Abhujmargh region are also using mobile phones. Better Internet connectivity will be provided in Bastar region and the capacity of the mobile towers will be enhanced, Singh said.
Singh said that electrification of 62 villages in Narayanpur district had been completed.
Developmental works in the rest 56 villages in Abhujmarh is going on at a rapid pace. Electric sub-station 33/ 11 k.v. had been constructed at Chhota Dongar, he said.
The Chief Minister sanctioned the electrification of 60 additional villages at the conference. The developmental works are being implemented in the district with a religious zeal. Roads are being laid to transport patients to the hospitals and ration materials to the interior villages. Nobody should oppose opening of schools, laying of roads, bridges, hostels and hospitals.
Efforts are being made to upgrade all the basic facilities in the district as soon as possible. People should not co-operate with those who are opposing the developmental activities in the far-flung areas, Singh said.
Efforts are being made to provide electricity to 1080 villages and 5600 habitats in the next two years, he said.
Referring to the presence of huge gathering, Singh said the locals are interested only in development. The pace of 'vikas rath' should be hastened.
The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction that 120 youths had been selected in the Bastar Battalion and several youths had been selected as guards.