Due to difficult geographical conditions in the state, the cost of rail, road, telecom projects increases
Minerals are produced in Chhattisgarh but revenue benefits go to value-addition and consumption states
Request to provide more resources to develop infrastructure in Nava Raipur
There is a need to focus on manufacturing and service sectors to build a developed Chhattisgarh: Central Finance Commission Chairman Dr. Arvind Panagariya
Raipur, 11 July 2024
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai today requested special grants to Chhattisgarh in a meeting with the 16th Finance Commission, which was on a visit to Chhattisgarh, keeping in mind the special conditions and needs of the state. The Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh is a new state, which is tribal-dominated, surrounded by difficult geographical conditions and is affected by Maoism. More financial resources will be required to bring Chhattisgarh at par with developed states.
The meeting was attended by 16th Finance Commission Chairman Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Saw and Vijay Sharma, Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary, Agriculture Minister Ramvichar Netam, Food Minister Dayaldas Baghel, Water Resources Minister Kedar Kashyap, Industry Minister Lakhanlal Dewangan, Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Laxmi Rajwade, Revenue Minister Tankaram Verma, Finance Commission members Ajay Narayan Jha, Smt. Annie George Mathew, Dr. Manoj Panda, Dr. Soumyakanti Ghosh, Secretary Shri Ritwik Pandey and team members.
In the meeting, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai said that development work is being done at a rapid pace in the Maoist affected areas, and effective action is being taken to curb Maoism. Due to difficult geographical conditions in these areas, there is an additional cost burden in the infrastructure development works. Under the Niyada Nellnar Scheme, work is being done to ensure basic facilities like education, health, roads, electricity, water in these areas.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that if the Central Finance Commission recommends more financial assistance to the state, then certainly public welfare works can be done on a large scale in backward areas. He said that the country is rapidly becoming an economic superpower and Chhattisgarh is also working hard for this. We will build a developed Chhattisgarh along with a developed India. We expect the Central Finance Commission to provide more financial assistance to implement our vision of Chhattisgarh.
The Chief Minister said that due to difficult geographical conditions in the state, we have to bear additional expenditure burden due to increase in cost and time limit of rail, road, telecommunication, energy, irrigation projects. We have to spend additional money to deal with the damage caused to the environment and health related side effects on people due to mining activities. He said that due to GST consumption and destination based tax system, the actual benefit of mining activities is not going to Chhattisgarh but to those states where value addition of minerals is taking place and minerals are being consumed.
The Chief Minister said that at the time of the formation of Chhattisgarh in the year 2000, this state started with a small economy of only Rs 29 thousand 539 crore. In the year 2023-24, the state has achieved the target of GSDP of Rs 5 lakh 9 thousand crore. In the coming five years, we are moving ahead with the goal of doubling the size of GSDP. The Chief Minister said that in such schemes which are being operated with the contribution of the Central Government and the State Government, the ratio of the amount received from the Central Government should be increased.
Central Finance Commission Chairman Dr. Arvind Panagariya praised the pace of economic progress of Chhattisgarh and said that the state is progressing rapidly. Nava Raipur has been settled in a very beautiful and systematic manner. Chhattisgarh is a very beautiful state. To fulfill the resolve of making a developed India and a developed Chhattisgarh, emphasis will have to be laid on manufacturing units. He said that in Chhattisgarh, along with fiscal stability, economic growth and social indices have improved rapidly. Chhattisgarh is an emerging and rapidly growing state. He said that in relation to making Chhattisgarh a developed state, the biggest resource here is human power. Who will have to be made skilled for the manufacturing and service sector.
Finance Minister Shri O.P. Choudhary, while presenting on the financial scenario of the state, said that Nava Raipur is being developed as a green smart city. More resources should be received from the Centre for infrastructure development here. He said that Chhattisgarh is following financial discipline as per the prescribed norms and will continue to do so in future as well. Efforts are being made to eliminate leakage by using modern technology in the tax system. The Finance Minister gave important suggestions about the norms of sharing of taxes between the Centre and the states by the Central Finance Commission. Deputy Chief Ministers and Ministers also gave information about the schemes related to their departments before the Finance Commission and requested to provide more resources.
Chief Secretary Mr. Amitabh Jain delivered the welcome address. Director General of Police Mr. Ashok Juneja gave a presentation on the resource requirements for the police force and Chief Executive Officer of NRDA Mr. Saurabh Kumar gave a presentation on the resource requirements for the projects of Nava Raipur. Serial
