Centre should intervene to weed out naxal issue: Chhattisgarh

Bangalore, June 9 (UNI) The Centre should come to the rescue of the Chhattisgarh Government in solving the escalating naxal problem, State Forest, Revenue, Tourism and Law Minister Brijmohan Agrawal said today.

Talking to UNI, Mr Agrawal, who was here in connection with the Bangalore Bio-2006, said seven out of 16 districts in Chhattisgarh, predominantly a tribal State, were affected by the naxal menace.

Stating that naxalism was a national phenomenon, he said the State Government alone could not find a solution and the Centre should come to its rescue. ''We have been repeatedly seeking the Centre's intervention,'' he added.

Mr Agrawal said naxalism was the root cause of lack of development in the State. Now, when Chhattisgarh had adequate funds for development, it was not able to execute the programmes because of naxalite attacks. The sufferers were the tribal lot, he lamented.

He said his Government would be spending Rs 100 crore over the next three years in improving tourism and infrastructure.

The Minister said over 1,75,000 tourists, mostly domestic, visited the State this year. The Government was keen to promote domestic tourism as it helped to generate employment.

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