Naveen calls for high investments in infrastructure

Bhubaneswar, July 17 (UNI) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today called for high levels of investment in infrastructure like roads, ports, railways, power generation and distribution to attract private sector investment in the state.

There has been a surge in the private sector investments in mining and related industries in the state on account of the rich mineral resources, he said while addressing the Regional meeting on Draft Approach paper for the 11th Five year plan at Kolkata.

The Chief Minister said Orissa has already initiated PPP mechanism for infrastructure development in the field of port and road development.

But PPP alone cannot be the answer to infrastructure development throughout the state for all the National and State Highways, Mr Patnaik said, adding that poor states like Orissa needed greater investments in the non-PPP mode than more advanced states where returns on investment in infrastructure was much higher.

He claimed that on account of the single window clearance mechanism, transparent procedures and well thought out R&R policy, the state has been facilitating setting up of industries, particularly private sector players in mining and related industries.

Mr Patnaik stressed the immediate need for increasing irrigation potential and drought proofing, which he said were critical pre-requisites to enhance agricultural productivity.

In Orissa, the area which could be brought under assured irrigation was quite substantial. Although the potential for irrigation was around 59 lakh hectares, the state has been able to tap only 27 lakh hectares till now.

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