We are working to remove investment bottlenecks: Naveen Patnaik

Interview with Odisha Chief Minister

Odisha has got an abundance of natural resources. Why has this abundance of natural resources not yet resulted in the kind of growth that Odisha has the potential of generating, and what in your view is that is coming in the way?

Yes, we are very rich in natural resources and we have received large investments in the past decade. With large investments, you often have problems like environment and rehabilitation issues. We are trying to sort those out, so that industries can come up in Odisha.

You mentioned investment bottlenecks, for example, about Posco and Vedanta. Is there any specific action plan that you have to overcome these bottlenecks?

The problems with those two companies will be sorted out. The prime minister has even spoken with the South Korean president to resolve the Posco issue expeditiously.

It is feared that some recent issues like the chit-fund scam and the problems that the mining sector has witnessed may vitiate the state's investment climate. How serious do you think are these issues?

Ever since we took office 15 years ago, we have tried to run a transparent government and taken strict action to quell such crimes. As far as the fiscal situation is concerned, when have come a long way from the ghastly situation in the year 2000. Today, we are a revenue-surplus state and financially much more stable.

You are one of the few Indian chief ministers in the country who had an uninterrupted run of three straight terms. You have achieved a lot in the past 14 years. Where do you see the state 20 years from now?

We have made rapid progress in sectors like irrigation, agriculture, and of course, infrastructure. Our anti-poverty programmes and pro-poor schemes for women and the tribal people have been successful. I do hope that Odisha is on course to become a very prosperous state in the future.

What kind of equation does the state share with the new Narendra Modi-led central government, and what possibilities does it hold for Odisha?

I hope the new central government will take constructive steps and meet Odisha's demands .

What about Odisha's demand for a special- category status?

That is our demand and we are working towards that.
Edited excerpts from responses of the chief minister to questions at the Business Standard Odisha Round Table-2014 on November 15