Bhubaneswar: After Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi returned from the Niti Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi, opposition members on Tuesday charged the CM in the state Assembly. They asked that the CM must disclose the demands he made for Odisha’s interests during the meeting.
BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo was the first to address this issue during the Assembly’s zero hour, seeking answers from the Chief Minister. He stated that upon the Chief Minister’s return from the Niti Aayog meeting, it is imperative for the House to be informed of the demands presented by Odisha and the outcomes thereof.
Sahoo highlighted that Odisha elected 20 BJP MPs to Delhi, helping the BJP to form a government in the centre. Consequently, he argued that Odisha is rightfully entitled to special assistance from the Centre, and it is crucial for the state to ascertain whether the CM has made any special demands.
Sahoo reminded in 2014, the BJP’s election manifesto included a demand to recognize Odisha as a special state. He questioned whether the CM reiterated this demand at the Niti Aayog meeting and also sought clarification on any demands made for special grants or financial assistance for the state.
Congress MLA leader Ramachandra Kadam inquired if the Chief Minister addressed the Polavaram project issue at the meeting. During zero hour, Kadam expressed concerns about the illegal elevation of the Polavaram project’s height by the Andhra Government, which threatens to submerge extensive areas of Malkangiri district. He emphasized the necessity for the Chief Minister to inform the Assembly about the demands made concerning this issue at the Niti Aayog meeting.
Congress MLA CH Rajen Ekka made a statement asserting that Odisha is embroiled in water disputes over the Mahanadi with the Chhattisgarh government and over Polavaram with the Andhra Pradesh government. Additionally, Odisha has long been advocating for special status. The state is also seeking an increase in the royalty from mineral resources and a revision of the mining cess, but the Central government has not been responsive.
He questioned whether the CM had presented these issues at the Niti Aayog and called for the CM to brief the assembly on the matters concerning Odisha’s interests that were raised at the meeting. Notably, CM Majhi had attended the Niti Aayog meeting in New Delhi on Saturday and returned to Odisha late Monday night.
Upon his return, the CM informed the media that during the Niti Aayog meeting, chaired by the PM, he had put forth demands critical for Odisha’s development. He emphasized the significance of the upcoming twelve years, particularly the first five, for the state’s development under the PM’s Purvodaya scheme, where Odisha is poised to play a leading role. The PM has accorded special priority to Odisha’s development.
CM Majhi assured that all the proposals made by him in the Niti Ayog meeting will be implemented. In the next 5 years, there will definitely be a huge change in Odisha. He highlighted the PM’s focus on developing Odisha’s 480 km coastline, port industry, tourism, IT sector, and tribal areas.
The CM also mentioned that during the Policy Commission meeting, he had discussions with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu about the Polavaram project and reiterated Odisha’s stance on the matter. He proposed organizing a meeting to further address the issue to which the Andhra CM cited his consent.
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