Odisha victim of central neglect: Naveen Patnaik

Bhubaneswar, Jan 14 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday said the state has been a victim of central neglect and conspiracy in the Polavaram and Mahanadi projects.

"As you know the rivers, especially the Mahanadi, are the lifelines of Odisha. But Odisha has repeatedly been denied its rights on the rivers flowing through it. Both in Pollavaram and Mahanadi, we have been a victim of central neglect and conspiracy," said the Chief Minister.

"But all of you know that we are determined to fight this issue at every level till we achieve the desired results," Patnaik said while addressing the BJD Legal Front here.

He said denial of funds for Kalahandi Balangir Koraput (KBK) region is another example of central neglect.

He said tribal students are facing problems in getting central scholarship in higher education due to the indifferent attitude of the centre.

He urged the legal luminaries of the state to strengthen the fight of the party on this issue.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence about the Legal Front contributing immensely in the ensuing Panchayat elections to strengthen the Biju Janata Dal.

He said Odisha under the BJD government is one among the few states of the country which has taken a number of initiatives to strengthen the Panchayati Raj System.

"The primary objective of our party is to ensure a sustainable development mechanism with the support and participation of people. I hope the Legal Front will contribute to this process in achieving our goal," he added.

Patnaik said the state government has put in place a robust social welfare mechanism that covers every section of society.

He said Odisha is the only state to double the income of farmers in the last decade and transform it from a rice deficit state to a rice surplus state.