Though the Regional Imbalances Inquiry Commission under the chairmanship of former Justice of Orissa High Court SK Mohanty had submitted its report 10 years back, it has not been implemented by the State Government as yet.
Planning and Coordination Minister Usha Devi informed this to the House on Thursday while taking a question by BJP member Dilip Ray.
The Minister said that the SK Mohanty Commission was appointed by the State Government on February 20, 2004 keeping in view the lopsided growth of the State. It was to probe the causes of regional disparity and recommend ways to solve the various problems concerning the issue. The members of the panel included former VC of Sambalpur University Dr PK Pati, Professor of Economics of the university Prasanna Tripathy and the then Director of Council of Analytical Tribal Studies, Koraput, Prof PC Mohapatra, besides a senior official of the Planning and Coordination Department. The commission submitted its report on August 6, 2008 and its recommendations are analysed by a Sub Committee, comprising Secretaries of 11 departments. The Sub Committee met in 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2015. However, the report has not been disclosed, said the Minister.
Ray expressed grave concerns over the delays in the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations since there are 165 backward and very backward blocks out of 314 in the State. Besides, of the 60 border blocks, as many as 50 are undeveloped, while most of the backward blocks are tribal-dominated.