Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged Union Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sihna, who met him at the Secretariat on Friday, to provide funds under the KBK Yojana and Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) scheme to the State soon.
Besides, Patnaik requested Sihna to sanction funds for irrigation projects under the Accelerated Irrigaion Programme, establishment of new medical colleges. He also brought to his notice the State’s demand for opening branches of commercial banks in areas where there no banks at all.
Among others, Finance Minister Pradeep Amat, Chief Secretary AP Padhi, Principal Secretary to CM UN Behera and Additional Chief Secretary, Finance R Balkrishnan were present.
later, addressing a Press conference here, Sinha expressed hopes that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) would be passed in the commission session of the Parliament.
“The Congress is stalling the House over various issues unnecessarily. I hope the GST Bill would be passed in the coming Parliament session,” he said. He said the BJD has consented to support it.
He said he would personally examine as to how various Central schemes like Mudra Bank, Jan Dhan Yojana and Insurance Scheme would be implemented in Odisha properly.