Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seems to have softened his stand a bit vis-a-vis the Centre during his recent visits to New Delhi. He expressed his satisfaction over the substantial progress made on many significant projects after he took up the matter with the Union ministers.
“He (the CM) expressed his satisfaction that because of timely action taken by the State Government and regular monitoring by the office of the Principal Resident Commissioner, Odisha, substantial progress has been achieved on many significant issues, as agreed to, in his meetings with the Union ministers,” a release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said on Monday.
Naveen reviewed action taken by different ministries on specific issues raised by him during his meetings with Union ministers between January and September last. The review included agreements reached between him and the Union ministers on important proposals concerning the State.
Naveen, however, maintained that still there are many proposals which continue to be under the Centre’s consideration. The review covered the Chief Minister’s meetings with the Union ministers for Culture, Environment and Forests, Health and Family Welfare, Civil Aviation, Water Resources, Agriculture, Tourism, Home, Panchayati Raj and Tribal Affairs.
The projects which have progressed satisfactorily during the period include the permissive possession given by the State Government this month to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which will enable it to undertake the required conservation measures for the Sun Temple, Konark, pending for a long time. The Centre has also agreed to the State’s proposal for upgrading Guru Kelucharan Odissi Research Centre to that of a State level museum.
Naveen said persistent efforts have led to the reconstitution of the Odisha Coastal Zone Management Authority, release of Central share to the Odisha State Treatment Fund Society and announcement of timeline for upgradation of Biju Patnaik Domestic Airport to an international airport by April, 2013.
The Chief Minister said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has started the process for establishment of Regional Institute of Para Medical Science in Bhubaneswar after the State contributed 10 acres of land to the adjacent All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The Centre agreed to the State’s proposal to include six more districts in the National Horticulture Mission as a result of which there will be 100 percent coverage. In addition, the Centre has acceded to the long pending demand to introduce a special train to cover Buddhist centres. The first train is expected to start operating in the third week of December where out of 7-day circuit, three days will be for Odisha.