Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday demanded better railway connectivity, banking and telecommunication facilities in Odisha districts affected by Left-wing extremism.
Speaking to the media after the inter-state council meeting on anti-Maoist operations in New Delhi, he said that the state had put forth three demands. “”I have urged the Centre for tele-services, banking facilities and rail connectivity in Maoist-hit Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts,” he said.
The Odisha government was willing to provide free land and also pay half of the project cost, he further said.
“I am satisfied with my demands. I hope they comply with it,” he added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah discussed anti-Maoist operations and development activities with the chief minister of 10 states dealing with the menace at the meeting.
The 10 Maoists-hit states are Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.