Bhattacharjee briefs PM on his policy

Kolkata, Jul 11 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that his Government was in favour of modernisation of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport at Dum Dum through Airport Authority of India (AAI), but it wanted a greenfield airport to come up in the state through private participation.

''I have told him that Dum Dum airport should be modernised by AAI. However, the proposed greenfield airport would be built by a private party, '' he told reporters briefing the details of his meeting with Dr Singh at the Raj Bhavan.

Apparently taken aback, the Prime Minister asked Mr Bhattacharjee if he really wanted a private party to implement the greenfield airport. ''I have told him yes, this is our policy, '' the Chief Minister said.

During the meeting, Mr Bhattacharjee sought the Prime Minister's intervention into the soaring price rise of essential commodities and requested him for early clearance of the proposed deep sea port in the state.

On the vexed issue of iron ore policy, the Prime Minister assured Mr Bhattacharjee to take up the subject at the next inter -state council meeting. The PM also agreed that there was a need for formulating a national policy on the movement of iron ore.

Mr Bhattacharjee also discussed with Dr Singh the proposed industrial projects, including that of ITC and Videcon, coming up in the state.

The Chief Minister told reporters that Union Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia would visit the city on July 17 in connection with the eleventh Finance Commission.

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