Investment climate building up in C'garh, says Raman Singh

New Delhi, Aug 31 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh Government has attracted an investment of Rs 36,000 crores during the last six months, which accounts for 13 per cent of the total investment made in the State ever since the BJP Government came to power, Chief Minister Raman Singh said here today.

A climate for investment has been built up in Chhattisgarh with the opening of Single Window Provision, attracting investment by bigger companies in the State, he told mediapersons after inaugurating a Chhattisgarh Government Emporium containing variety of products made in the State.

The Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) in Bhilai itself has earned an income of 4200 crores, the Chief Minister said.

Even the naxalite-affected areas in Chhattisgarh have not been able to deter investment by enterpreneurs with Bastar,Dantewada and Sarguja districts receiving investment to the tune of Rs 5000 crores to 8000 crores, according to Dr Singh.

The National Mineral Development Corporation had been carrying on its work in tribal Bastar region smoothly since last 32 years,he said, adding the naxal activities had not affected the industrial development in the state.

Replying to a question on naxalites, the Chief Minister said he had done everything possbile to check the menace of naxalites in his state and had found out a solution to the problem,but did not spell out what that solution was.However,he said the state government was firmly pursuing the path of "Salwa Judum(peace mission)" and hoped this would help bring about peace in tribal Bastar region.

Dr Singh said the State Government Emporium being set up in Delhi would help find market for export of handicrafts, woodproducts and bell metal items produced by local artisans of Bastar. It would be a big centre for marketing of such products.The artisans from far of areas of Chhattisgarh would come to Delhi to have a feel of the market for their products, he added.

The Government,he said,would gradually open up such centres in other metropolitan towns of the country to find a market for the Chhattisgah-made products as the demand for them picks up.

Asked about Vande Mataram controversy, the Chief Minister said no controversy should unnecessarily be created over the national song. He said his government had issued an advisory to all concerned that at least two stanzas of the national song should be sung all through the centenary year beginning from September 7. ''Every one who is born in India should feel proud in singing this song as a salute to the nation and no question should be raised in singing this song. There can certainly be no element of compulsion in that,'' he said.

UNI YS PR RS2001