CPI against mining lease to private companies

The CPI which has entered into a seat sharing arrangement with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Orissa has opposed the allotment of mineral resources to companies on lease in its manifesto.

The party has instead suggested that the companies need to purchase the minerals at market rates and the mineral resources in the state should be under the control of the Orissa Mining Corporation.

The CPI manifesto was released on Friday by Diwakar Naik, state secretary of the party. Towing the line of CPI (M), the party has ruled out the possibility of joining a BJD led government in the state after the elections.

The CPI has taken exception to the proposed captive port project of Posco India and has suggested that the company can carry out its operations through the Paradeep port in the state. The party has also demanded that the Posco project should be shifted to another location on a consensus basis.

Orissa being primarily an agrarian state, the party has stressed on the balanced development of agriculture and industry in the state. The CPI has also called for measures for development of agriculture and strengthening of the irrigation system. The party in its manifesto has also underscored the need for development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and pointed out that efforts should be made for re-opening of all factories that have been shut in the state.

The manifesto has also called for effective implementation of labour laws, fulfillment of legitimate demands of the workers and granting the status of government employees to the Anganwadi workers. Concerned over the growing frequency of floods that have hit Orissa in the past few years, the CPI has recommended a Master Plan to suggest effective preventive and remedial measures for the problem.

Among the other measures recommended by the party in its manifesto include filling up of all vacant posts in Orissa within one year, strengthening of the public distribution system, setting up of a hospital in every gram panchayat and hike in education budget.