Centre promises help to intensify developmental works in Naxal areas

NEW DELHI: The Centre today promised to help Naxal-hit states to intensify developmental projects relating to roads, bridges, education and other infrastructure in such locations besides carrying out offensives against the rebels.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the developmental projects relating to roads, bridges, railway lines, mobile towers, post offices, banking infrastructure, education, health, radio and TV connectivity and forest and environmental clearances in Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Odisha and Maharashtra.

He said the Bastar region, considered to be the citadel of Maoists, requires special attention for early completion of developmental projects and a coordinated action for tackling Left-wing extremism in the area.

He highlighted the long pending problem of extremism in the area and assured the states of necessary central assistance, a Home Ministry official said.

The four states share border with the Bastar region. Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra -- Raman Singh and Devendra Fadnavis -- respectively attended the meeting while Telangana and Odisha were represented by their Chief Secretaries and DGPs.

Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Smriti Irani, Suresh Prabhu, Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore attended the meeting.

The Union ministers heard the views of the respective state governments and assured necessary assistance to them. The states highlighted their concern regarding the requirement of funds for these projects.

It was agreed that the Naxal-hit states in general and Bastar region in particular required special assistance from the Centre and the government may consider necessary relaxations in the policies and schemes for the development of these areas.