HM assures Chhattisgarh of every support to uproot Naxal problems
| Date :18-Nov-2020 |
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel during a meeting in Delhi on Tuesday.
Staff Reporter :
Raipur,
CM meets Amit Shah and demanded 30% discount on iron ore to steel plants in Bastar
Demands employment opportunities for Bastar people
Baghel also registered his opposition to privatisation of NMDC
Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of every support to overcome Naxalite problem. Baghel met Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday and discussed with him various issues prevailing in Naxal-affected Bastar region. The Chief Minister urged the Union Home Minister for creating employment opportunities for people of Bastar region to overcome Naxal issues. Both the Chief Minister and the Union Minister discussed on the deployment of two more Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Battalions in the LWE-hit areas and improving of telecom facilities.
The Union Home Minister assured the Chief Minister of swift action on the issue. Chief Minister further informed the Union Home Minister that iron ore is available in abundance in Bastar region and if iron ore is made available at 30 per cent discount to steel plants to be set up in Bastar, then investment of hundreds of crores and thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities will be created. He said that grid power has not yet reached in large part due to difficult geographical areas. With the establishment of large number of solar power plants, it is possible to meet the energy needs of the people and their economic development, he said.
The Chief Minister requested for grant to make cold chains for arranging the processing and sale of minor forest produce, forest medicines and several types of horticultural crops in the forest areas. Baghel demanded a sum of at least Rs 50 crore each to be allotted to Collectors for development of livelihoods in all the seven aspiring districts of Bastar region of State.
During the discussion, Chief Minister insisted not to privatise NMDC for the sake of development of Bastar, to which the Home Minister has assured that he will consider the request. Baghel also discussed issues related to livelihood development, development of banks, roads and infrastructure in Naxal areas. A meeting of officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and officials of Chhattisgarh in Raipur has also been scheduled soon to discuss various issues. Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Subrat Sahoo and Secretary to Chief Minister Siddhartha Komal Singh Pardeshi were also present on the occasion.