OREANDA-NEWS. February 10, 2015. Union Home Minister Shri 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 Left Wing Extremism affected States of Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Odisha and Maharashtra here today.

Shri Rajnath Singh mentioned that the Bastar region requires special attention for early completion of developmental projects and a coordinated action for tackling Left Wing Extremism problems in the area. He highlighted the long pending problem of Extremism in the area and assured the States of necessary central assistance.

The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways & Shipping, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Communications & Information Technology, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Human Resource Development, Smt Smriti Irani, Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhu, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary and Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore attended the meeting.

The Union Ministers heard the views of the respective State Governments and assured the necessary assistance to them. They also highlighted their concern regarding the requirement of funds for these projects. It was agreed that the LWE affected States in general and Bastar region in particular required special assistance from the centre and the Government of India may consider necessary relaxations in the policies and schemes for the development of these areas.

The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Dr. Raman Singh mentioned that about 700 kms of sanctioned roads remain to be completed in the State in addition to the construction of two major bridges. About 900 sites for mobile towers have been finalised and the approximately the same number of sites are still to be finalised. The issue of opening more post offices and banking infrastructure in the LWE affected areas was also highlighted in the meeting. The Chief Minister also brought out the need for installing higher capacity TV / radio stations including FM radio stations for better connectivity in the Bastar region. The requirement of more schools with residential facilities was also highlighted.

The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis also highlighted the issue of pending road works of about 150 kms and the work of Indirawati bridge awarded in January last year. The Chief Minister also raised the issue of construction work of laying railway track in the LWE affected areas.

The Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Odisha and Telangana also highlighted the developmental projects pending in their States and necessary central assistance required for their early clearances and completions.

The meeting was attended by Union Home Secretary, Shri L.C. Goyal, Secretaries and senior officers from the Ministries of Home, Finance, Railways, Human Resource Development, Health, Information Technology, Information & Broadcasting and Environment & Forests. The representatives of Central Armed Police Forces and Security Agencies were also present.