Bihar will be a developed state by 2015--Nitish

Jalandhar, Feb 1 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said Bihar would be a developed state by 2015 and the process of transformation has already started.

Talking to reporters here Mr Kumar said joint sitting of Bihar legislative assembly and council had adopted an unanimous resolution in the presence of President APJ Abdul Kalam to transform Bihar into a developed state by 2015.

He said his government had already begun working on it and results have been very encouraging.

Law and order situation has improved considerably and pace of development has also been accelerated, the Chief Minister said.

He said as many as 73 proposal of industrial projects, involving an investment of Rs 27,000 crore had already been cleared by his government.

Most of these projects are for cane sugar units, maize processing units and other agro-based industries.

Besides this, projects of secondary steel industry and health projects are also in the pipe line.

On law and order front, unlawful activities has been brought under control and process of trial in criminal cases has been accelerated. A total of 6000 accused has been convicted and 1300 of them awarded life imprisonment. This has instilled the people's confidence in the law enforcing agencies.

He said criminals and mafia elements no longer enjoy political protection since the installation of his government.

Mr Kumar was here to campaign for candidates of NDA constituents-BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) for the February 13 Punjab assembly elections.

UNI