Nitish to call on Prime Minister for the cause of poor

Patna, Jan 29 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said he would soon call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the construction of roads for the uplift of the state.

Mr Kumar told newspersons here he would seek fresh directions from Dr Singh to enhance the fixed parametres up to 16 points for preparing the Below Poverty Line (BPL) list and for construction of roads under the third phase of National Highway Development Project (NHDP).

He admitted several poor people could not be included in the BPL due to the directions of the Centre and a fresh direction was essential for justification of the list.

He said the third phase of construction of roads under the NHDP was pending despite he had raised the issue before the Union Surface Transport Minister. Mr Kumar said he would raise the matter before Dr Singh.

Mr Kumar suggested the Prime Minister to reconsider the Special Economic Zone (SEZ), saying he was opposed to its present format. He also asked to review the type and area of land being acquired for SEZ along with the fact that whether old industries would be shifted there or new one would be installed.

He said the welfare of the farmers should not be compromised in the name of development and the farmes, who were losing their land, should be suitably compensated and be given due share in the industry being set up on their land.

UNI