Tuesday, November 29 2005 14:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Asserting that Bihar deserved 'special treatment' in view of the ills that have plagued the state, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today (Nov 29, 2005) urged the Centre to declare it 'a backward state' and extend all-possible tax relief.

"Bihar deserves special treatment in view of the ills that have plagued it. The Centre should declare it a backward state and extend all-possible tax relief", Kumar told reporters at his state assembly chamber.

Stating that the Centre had covered only 15 of 38 districts under the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and also to carry out the Food for Work programme, he said taking into account large-scale exodus of 'unskilled' labourers, all the districts of the state should have been covered under the scheme.

"If all the districts are covered, the large-scale migration of labourers to other states will be effectively checked", Kumar said.

Chief Minister said he had taken up with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the issue of covering all the districts in the state under the Employment Guarantee Scheme and its effective implementation.

He said the state required 'special treatment' as it was facing 'multi-faceted' problems in view of the growing naxal activities, unemployment and poverty as also keeping in mind its boundary with Nepal.

"I am in constant touch with the Centre for it', he disclosed and said the state be placed in the list of other backward states declared by the Centre as similar situations existed here.

Stating that effective steps were being undertaken to improve the power generation in the state to cater to the requirements of the people, Kumar said he would take up with the Centre the construction of the proposed 4,000 mw thermal power project, a joint collaboration of NTPC and Indian railway at Navinagar in Aurangabad district.

"The Detailed Project Report (DPR) has already been prepared and the State Pollution Control Board has already given environmental clearance for the project way back in 2003 when I was holding the charge of railways", he said.

Kumar said the proposal for the project was still pending for the approval of Union cabinet and he would take up this matter with Prime Minister and Energy ministry soon.

He said concerted efforts would be made for revival, modernisation and expansion of Kanti-and-Barauni-based thermal power projects to help boost power generation in Bihar to cater to commercial and domestic requirements. Kumar said another thermal power project was already being constructed by the NTPC at Barh.

In reply to a question, Kumar said he was presently going into the requirements of the police force to effectively curb the criminal activities by holding review meetings with top police officials. "I am also in touch with PM and Home minister to apprise them of the resources and assistance required for modernisation of police force", he revealed.

Kumar said interlinking of rivers to tide over the water imbalance was also a priority of his government. He said steps would also be taken for strengthening the embankments of various rivers, construction of dams and completion of all the pending projects of the state Water Resources department to help improve irrigation facilities.