State to raise crucial issues at plan panel meet tomorrow

On the 12 challenges identified by the Planning Commission, the conference will invite views and suggestions from the CMs and the representatives of the state.

Odisha has plans to demand for the special package in view of its poor economic status and special financial modules for the development in the agriculture sector, urban development — and packages for the welfare of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in the state. 

Apart from the special packages for the developmental work, the state will seek special grants for KBK districts and for the infrastructural development. It has plans to invite Commission’s attention to the problems the state is facing in terms of the royalty issue of the minerals and other issues involving regional imbalances.  

“In the conference we will raise a few important issues including how the mineral-rich states can be compensated while facing environmental and displacement problems caused by the mineral exploration and the timely revision of the royalty of the minerals and the improved pricing,” said R.P. Singh, Special Secretary, Planning and Coordination Department.

“We will bring to the Commission’s notice the issues like infrastructure, drainage and sewage and above all public transport,” said Mayor, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation.

The two-day meeting which will have four sessions will be attended by Navin Patnaik of Orissa, the newly-elected Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, Arjun Munda of Jharkhand and Raman Singh of Chhattisgarh.

The CMs of the respective states will attend the conference along with their finance ministers and senior bureaucrats.

In Orissa, apart from the CM, the others to represent the conference include Mayor of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Chairperson, Similiguda block of Koraput, President, Zilla Parishad, Bhadrak and Sarpanch of Saharpada panchayat of Keonjhar.

Earlier, Planning Commission had the regional conference of the southern states.