Raipur airport to become cargo hub, Centre to declare MSP price for Kodo, Kutki
Team News Riveting
Raipur, August 22
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel today demanded that state governments should be given adequate rights for development in accordance with the local issues and parameters.
While addressing the 23rd meeting of the Central Zonal Council held in Bhopal chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Baghel gave various proposals on which important decisions were taken. It includes developing Raipur airport as a cargo hub, central government to declare minimum support price for Kodo, Kutki and providing Vermi compost made under Godhan Nyay Yojana the benefit of Nutrition Based Subsidy on the lines of chemical fertilizers on the request of Chhattisgarh government was also taken.
Of the 19 agendas, eight were suggested by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister. Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Subrata Sahu and Secretary to Chief Minister Siddharth Komal Pardeshi were also present in the meeting.
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the meeting while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel attended the meeting through virtual medium.
Baghel said that special policies and strategies were needed for the development of Chhattisgarh as it had 44 per cent forest area, majority of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes population, Left extremism, dependence of livelihood on agro-forest products and traditional means. He added that the state government has been taking all possible measures for development from the limited resources but requires special cooperation of the Government of India.
The Chief Minister said that it was a pleasure that many such points were included in the agenda of today’s meeting, on which a positive discussion would help Chhattisgarh.
He said Chhattisgarh has received less shares of central taxes by Rs 13,089 crore in the Union Budget of the last three years, resulting in extreme pressure on the resources of the state. In the coming budget, the share of central taxes should be given to the state completely. He also demanded reimbursement of expenditure made by the state government for eradication of Naxalism.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel today reiterated the state’s demand of GST compensation, transferring the amounts collected as ‘additional levy’ from coal block companies.
He also requested for speedy action on other pending demands of the state government including refund of deposits in New Pension Scheme. The chief minister said that there has been a loss of revenue to the states due to the GST tax system, the Center has not made arrangements to compensate the loss of revenue of about Rs 5000 crores to the state in the coming year, so the GST compensation grant should be continued for the next 5 years even after June 2022.
The chief minister said that NITI Aayog has appreciated the better performance of the aspirational districts of the state in the last three and a half years. But there are still resource problems in the state, which should be resolved. He also urged for relaxation under Forest Conservation Act in setting up of 5 MW solar power plants in 10 aspirational districts of Chhattisgarh.
He further said that Chhattisgarh has strengthened the rural economy through the protection and development of ‘Narva, Garuva, Ghurva, Bari’, under the Suraji Gaon Yojana.
On vermicompost produced in the state, a proposal to provide ‘Nutrient Based Subsidy’ on par with chemical fertilizers has been sent to the Government of India, whose approval is requested, he added.
About 426 major bridges are missing in the roads constructed under ‘Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna’ and 154 roads in Naxal-affected Bastar division whose length has been completed up to 562 km Stage-1 GSB level. Therefore, approval of Stage-2 is required. The estimated cost of both the works is Rs 1,700 crore. It is requested that approval for the same may be given, he demanded.
He further said that the time period of the month of September, 2022 has been fixed by the Government of India for the works of ‘Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana’, it is requested that more time should be given to complete the work in Bastar division.
