Rajnath reviews development work in extremism-hit states

Home Minister Rajnath Singh Monday reviewed the progress of developmental projects in left wing extremism affected states of Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Odisha and Maharashtra.

Reviewing work on roads, bridges, railway lines, mobile towers, post offices, banking infrastructure, education, health, radio and TV connectivity and forest and environmental clearances, he said "necessary central assistance" will be provided to these states.

Singh along with other senior ministers heard the views of the state governments and assured them of necessary assistance, an official statement said.

It was discussed that adequate funds should be made available for all developmental projects in the states. It was also agreed that states with Maoist problems in general, and Bastar region of Chhattisgarh in particular, required special assistance from the centre.

The government may consider necessary relaxations in the policies and schemes for the development of these areas, it said.

Chief ministers of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, Raman Singh and Devendra Fadnavis respectively, highlighted the problems faced by their states and asked for central assistance to deal with them.

The other states were represented by their chief secretaries and other officials at the meeting with the home minister.

Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Human Resource Development Smriti Irani, Minister for Railways Suresh Prabhu, Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore were among those who attended the meeting.