Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday put forth demands before the Union Government for better railway connectivity, banking and telecommunication facilities in the Maoist-hit districts in Odisha.
He made the demands during an Inter-State Council meeting on anti-Maoist operations held under chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Monday. Shah reviewed the developmental activities undertaken in the ten Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-hit States of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
“Districts of Nabarangpur and Malkangiri should get railway connectivity. Our State Government is willing to provide land free freee of cost and also pay half the costs (of railway projects). We also demanded banking facilities in all the Maoist-affected blocks and telecommunication in these areas. I am satisfied with my demands. I hope they comply with it,” the Chief Minister told reporters after the meeting.
The Chief Minister informed that during the year 2018 and 2019 till August 15, as many as 26 LWE cadres have died in police action, 85 arrested and 35 surrendered. Due to dwindling mass support and the recruitment of local cadres, the total strength of the LWE cadres operating in the State has reduced substantially, said the CM.
He highlighted that pro-people, pro-tribal and pro-poor schemes along with 100 per cent electrification and improved access to health and education facilities have played a major role in containing LWE problem.
He said that induction of two additional battalions of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) is imperative to effectively prevent the influx of outside LWE cadres.
Patnaik sought the support of the Centre in early installation of mobile towers at 866 locations in the LWE affected areas and placement of a dedicated helicopter for the State. He suggested that railway connectivity projects to Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts should be completed within 36 months.
Banking infrastructure needs to be set up in the unbanked areas. He also requested that the pending Rs 227 crore under the SRE Scheme should be released early. He urged the Central Government to waive the deployment charge of CAPFs as ensuring the internal security is a constitutional obligation of the Union Government.
Patnaik reiterated his Government’s commitment to the strategy of proactive security and sustained holistic development of the Maoist-affected areas and requested the Union Government to provide full support to the State Government in this regard.