Nitish seeks central aid for development of Bihar

Says 'special category' status necessary for state to grow its industries

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said his government required Centre's support in the form of a 'special category status' to push the state's all round development especially in the industrial sector.
"We are working in every sector. Industries are growing but there is still a huge scope and potential for industrial growth in the state. We have Industrial Incentive Policy but it requires support from central government... Be it a (new) package or repackaging of old ones, whatever is given I would not mind," Kumar said while addressing ADRI silver jubilee function here.
"If the state is granted special category status, it would bring investments as people would get tax exemptions and other benefits. People are watching Bihar as a destination with lots of curiosity because of the fact that it is related with their history," Kumar told a conference of the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI).

ADRI has organised a five-day international conference starting today in the state capital on 'Development and Growth: Experience and Theories'.
Kumar said it was ADRI which first prepared a report that Bihar should get 'special category status'.
Under 'Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal' scheme, Urban Development and

Housing Department will provide piped drinking water of 135 litres per person in urban areas. Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) and Panchayati Raj Department would provide the same facility in rural areas, the CM said.
Funds have been allocated for the purpose, he added.
The state government would provide Rs 12,000 per family for construction of a toilet in urban and rural areas, Kumar said, adding that community toilet would be built for those people who do not have space for constructing toilets.

But, out of these community toilets every household would be handed over key of one toilet which they should clean and maintain with personal interest, he said.
Emphasising that all the schemes of seven resolves are 'universal', Kumar said merely constructing toilets would not serve the purpose of making the state 'Open Defecation-Free', but there should be proper awareness for the benefits of using toilets.
Giving details of the schemes, Development Commissioner Shishir Sinha said 15.71 lakh families in urban areas have to be covered under the piped drinking water supply scheme by the end of 2019.
As per the survey conducted by the government, there are 19.08 lakh families in 140 urban local bodies, a statement by Urban Development Department said.

Panchayati Raj Department would provide water supply in 5,013 panchayats, while PHED would supply piped water in 3,378 panchayats, it said.
There are 1.60 crore families which do not have toilets in their homes, while such number in urban areas is 7.93 lakh families, Sinha said, adding that the government has set a target of constructing toilets by 2019.