Orissa submits plan for development in Maoists hit areas

BHUBANESWAR - The Orissa government has submitted an integrated action plan to the centre on expediting development work in some of the areas worst hit by Maoists activities, an official said here Thursday.

The Maoists are active in more than half of state’s 30 districts. The government, however, has submitted its plan for carrying out various development projects exclusively in five of these, the state planning and coordination department official told IANS.

The state has asked the central government to sanction Rs.2,400 crore for the districts of Sambalpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Malkangiri and Deogarh, he said.

“Development in the Maoists hit areas have suffered because of extremist activities. The idea was to bridge the development gaps” he said.

The action plan highlights the need to improve road infrastructure, health care, education, irrigation, water as well as security infrastructure, he said.

A Planning Commission team had visited the state early June and asked the state government to submit an integrated plan for the worst hit areas. The state government this week submitted the proposal as per the team’s advice, he said.