Small states must be economically feasible: Rajnath

Raipur, Nov 5 (UNI) Bharatiya Janata Party President Rajnath Singh today strongly advocated for carving out small states on the basis of its 'economic feasibility', instead of any political considerations.

Speaking at the valedictory function of the Chhattisgarh's seventh statehood celebrations, he said the state re-organisation commission have to study and analyse these aspects before recommending creation of any new states.

The BJP leader's stand on creating small states on the basis of economic feasibility assumes significance in view of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's demand for carving out four small states out of Uttar Pradesh and the demand for creation of Vidarbha and Telengana states out of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

The BJP president, however, said Chhattisgarh, a new state carved out of Madhya Pradesh in November 2000, was on the fast track of development.

Lauding the efforts being made by the state to speed up the pace of development, he said the state has made tremendous progress in all fields.

''Chhattisgarh is the only state in the country where uninterrupted power supply is available for 23 hours a day,'' he pointed out, adding that the state government must make efforts to ensure that all houses in the state were electrified in the next three years.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh said whatever development initiatives being seen on the ground was just because of the fact that Chhattisgarh has become a state.

''At present, we have decided to provide rice at Rs three per kilo to all BPL families at a cost of Rs 800 crore. Similarly, we have provided bicycles to 40,000 girl students and also launched many other schemes aimed at the welfare of the tribals,'' he said, adding that all these were gifts of a region getting statehood.

''However, Mr Singh expressed serious concern over the problem of migration of agriculture labourers from many districts. Development initiatives will remain incomplete till this migration is stopped,'' he added.

Referring to Naxalite violence in tribal districts, Mr Singh expressed confidence that peace would return to the problem affected areas, where development would also take place.

UNI