Patnaik calls for economic diversification

Economic diversification is necessary for disaster prone Odisha which often faces floods and cyclones, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said here Friday.

"The natural calamities like rain, flood and cyclone have been affecting Odisha all the time," Patnaik said after hoisting the tricolour at the Independence Day celebrations at Mahatma Gandhi Marg here.

"Such calamities have destroyed properties worth thousands of crore rupees. They (disasters) have a special impact on development. They also have a deep impact on the economy of the common people. That is why diversification of our economy is essential," he said.

The chief minister said that was the reason why the state government gave importance to develop the agro industries, private industries, down stream and ancillaries industries.