Bhupesh seeks approval for cargo hub and port facility for export

Central Chronicle News
Raipur, Feb 20: Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide additional financial resources to Chhattisgarh for developmental activities in the state, at 6th governing council meeting of NITI Aayog today. Baghel sought the additional financial resources to Chhattisgarh while informing about various state government schemes and policies over industries, agricultural development, and infrastructural development, enhancement of irrigation facility in Bastar region and development of Naxal-infested areas, at the meeting which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Referring to outstanding performance of aspiring districts of Chhattisgarh in all development parameters he called for due importance to the aspect of cultural promotion in the concept of aspiring districts. The Chief Minister also suggested allowing subsidy in vermi compost fertiliser in line with chemical fertiliser. He said that NITI Aayog admired innovations in aspiring districts of Chhattisgarh through delta ranking.
The Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh is deprived of coal block despite having large reserves of coal. Coal block should be allotted for the public sector unit of Chhattisgarh, he said. According to him royalty rates on minerals were not hiked since 2014 and that state government suffered loss. He called for revising royalty rates. The Chief Minister also called for not going in for disinvestment of Nagarnar Steel Plant in Bastar. He said that a government resolution was also passed in Chhattisgarh Assembly on this issue.
The Chief Minister requested for approval of proposal to set up Cargo Hub in Raipur to promote development of industries and export in Chhattisgarh. He asked for port facility for export. According to him Chhattisgarh is among landlocked states and that it should be given inland transportation grant for industrial activities.
It has been decided by the state government to buy Kodo-Kutki at the support price, he said. Kodo-kutki is also in great demand abroad. Due to the availability of their export facility, tribal farmers of the state will benefit from it, he said. Chhattisgarh is one of six leading states in the criteria of Ease of Doing Business.
Mineral resources and value addition in agriculture and forest produce are being promoted under new industrial policy of the state government, he said. Lac production and fisheries have been given the status of farming in Chhattisgarh. The steel industry was provided with subsidized power during the Corona period. He said that 154 MoUs have been signed in last two years for a capital investment of Rs 56 thousand crore.