Odisha to back GST Bill despite friction with Centre

My party supports GST Bill because it is good for the state and good for the country, said Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik

Odisha chief minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo Naveen Patnaik said on Sunday his party would back the goods and services tax (GST) Bill despite the ongoing tiff with the Centre over the Polavaram project, drought relief aid, and grant of special category status to Odisha. “My party supports the GST Bill because it is good for the state and good for the country,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said at the second edition of Odisha Round Table hosted by Business Standard .

On the tussle with the Centre over the Polavaram project, drought relief and special category status, he stated, “These are separate issues. We will support whatever is good for the state.” The ruling BJD has raised a loud banner of protest against the Polavaram irrigation project, saying large tracts of land in the southern tip of Odisha would be inundated if the project is allowed to come up in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Besides, with 26 of its 30 districts in the grip of drought, the state government has sought central assistance of Rs 2,199.06 crore. Asked on the Posco project, the chief minister sounded optimistic.

“Indeed, Posco is the largest foreign direct investment in the country and I certainly haven't given up hope of its coming up here. Recently, I urged the Prime Minister if the Centre could have a meeting  to resolve the Posco project. They (Central government) will come back to us,” he said.

Patnaik admitted to a crunch in resource mobilisation because of a dip in revenues from the mining sector. However, his government would not abandon the welfare schemes and banked on its latest industrial policy statement — Industrial Policy Resolution 2015 — to draw investments and generate employment. “We have plans in the next three years to attract investments of approximately Rs 1.73 lakh crore in the state. This will help generate 350,000 new jobs,” he stated. Spelling out his vision for Odisha, Patnaik said he aimed to eradicate poverty in the state and this explains his government’s thrust on pro-poor programmes. His vision is also aligned to development, welfare (of the people), health and education sectors, Patnaik added. The chief minister indicated he was wary of neighbouring states competing with Odisha to draw investments.

“We will certainly look into the aspects of our neighbouring states and work for mutual cooperation,” he said.

Delivering the keynote address on ‘Ease of Doing Business’, he said: “We will continue to implement business reforms to make it smooth for companies to do business in the state. One of the key reforms planned to be implemented in the next two to three years is the operationalisation of online combined application form.”