Minister Speaks Of A 'developed' Orissa

Minister speaks of a 'developed' Orissa

Statesman News Service

ROURKELA, Sept. 27: Orissa will soon be on a par with developed countries, finance minister Mr Prafulla Chandra Ghadei claimed today, while addressing a gathering during the annual day celebration of Bharat Darshan, a vernacular daily, here.

"We are on the threshold of development triggered by major investments and in no time our state will be recognised as one of the most advanced states in the country," Mr Ghadei stated.

Speaking on investments and the R & R policy, the minister said: "We have the best rehabilitation package in the country and all of us should be united to avail of the benefits of development in our state."

Referring to the reports in The Statesman on the West Bengal government's pro-active moves to free land from farmers for establishing Tata Motors' automobile project at Singur, he said the interest of the state was paramount for them and ministers were directly seeing to it that land was available for the project.

Mr Ghadei was critical of Centre's policy towards the state and alleged that the UPA government was trying to weaken Orissa and through financial jugglery, they were trying to show that the KBK fund was intact, though the situation was different.

Earlier, Mr KC Mallick, founder president of BISWA, an NGO, lauded the state government's efforts to develop the state. He favoured the industrialisation process going on at the moment and noted that along with agricultural development, industrialisation too was needed at the same pace.

CEO of Adhnik Group Mr HS Sidhu, vice-president of Bhusan Power and Steel Mr SK Mishra and Rourkela MLA Mr Sarada Nayak also spoke on the occasion. Mr Bingyan Mishra, the editor of the paper, welcomed the guests.