Naveen blames Centre's economic polices

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday said the state would perform well on economic front despite the Centre's "faulty" policies.

"During the first two years of the 12th Plan faulty policies of the Centre and general economic slow down have affected growth, but we hope to do better in the coming years," Patnaik told the Assembly while replying to the debate on the governor's address.

Consistent with state's development ambitions, Odisha's plan size was increased to Rs 21,467 crore in 2013-14 from Rs 2,484 crore in 1999-2000 and is likely to rise to Rs 27,000 crore in 2014-15, he said.

"Odisha recorded average annual growth of 8.23 per cent during 11th Plan," Patnaik said adding the real per capita income in Odisha at 2004-05 prices jumped from Rs 14,862 in 1999-2010 to Rs 26,900 in 2011-12, an increase of 77 per cent.

"Our State achieved the highest reduction in poverty among all states when the ratio dropped by 24.6 percentage points in a 6 year period from 2004-05," he said.

The Chief Minister said government will ensure that all sections and regions would get the benefit of development being witnessed in the state. Western Odisha Development Council is dedicated to development programmes under key sectors like roads, communication, agriculture, minor irrigation, lift irrigation, water supply, infrastructure for schools and colleges, health services and electrification of villages, he added.

Amidst opposition MLAs accusations that BJD government had failed on all fronts, Patnaik said it was proud of its accomplishments during the last 14 years.

He claimed that the government had persevered hard for social and economic development and most of the key projects whether in industrial, agricultural, health, education, infrastructure and information technology sectors have been put up on the fast track.