Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday stressed the need for comprehensive development plans for Bastar region, the worst Naxal-affected spot in the country. Chairing a high-level meeting of Central Ministers and Chief Ministers of left Wing Extremism (lWE)-affected States, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said early completion of development projects and co-ordinate action by various Government agencies would help the forces to tackle the Maoist elements fast.
The high-level meeting promised to help Naxal-hit States to intensify developmental projects relating to roads, bridges, education and other infrastructure in such locations besides carrying out offensives against the rebels.
Singh reviewed the developmental projects relating to roads, bridges, railway lines, mobile towers, post offices, banking infrastructure, education, health, radio and TV connectivity and forest and environmental clearances in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Odisha and Maharashtra.
The Home Minister highlighted the long-pending problem of extremism in the area and assured the States of necessary Central assistance, a Home Ministry official said. The four States share border with the Bastar region. Raman Singh and Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra attended the meeting. Telangana and Odisha were represented by their Chief Secretaries and DGPs.
Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Smriti Irani, Suresh Prabhu, Haribhai Parathibhai Chaud-hary and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore attended the meeting. Home Secretary lC Goyal and other top officials including from paramilitary forces also attended the high-level meeting on development activities in Naxal-affected regions.
“The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Raman Singh mentioned that about 700 kms of sanctioned roads remain to be completed in the State in addition to the construction of two major bridges. About 900 sites for mobile towers have been finalised and the approximately the same number of sites are still to be finalised.
The issue of opening more post offices and banking infrastructure in the lWE-affected areas was also highlighted in the meeting. The Chief Minister also brought out the need for installing higher capacity TV/radio stations including FM radio stations for better connectivity in the Bastar region. The requirement of more schools with residential facilities was also highlighted.
“The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis also highlighted the issue of pending road works of about 150 kms and the work of Indirawati bridge awarded in January last year. The Chief Minister also raised the issue of construction work of laying railway track in the lWE-affected areas,” the Home Ministry said in a statement.