Naveen to demand phasing out of minerals exports

Bhubaneswar, Dec 18 (UNI) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today reiterated that the Chief Ministers of five mineral rich states would urge the Prime Minister to phase out export of minerals from the country.

Before leaving for New Delhi to attend the National Development Council meeting and Internal security meeting convened by Dr Monmohan Singh, Mr Patnaik told reporters the Chief Ministers of Rjasthan, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh along with Orissa would raise the demand during discussion on the proposed mineral policy.

Mr Patnaik said he would also urge the union government to provide additional CRPF battalion and more assistance for socio-economic development of the scheduled areas to tackle the Naxalites.

The Chief Minister said he would also press the Union Government to include some more districts of Orissa under Maoist affected areas.

The Chief Minister will also call on Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Aluwalia.

UNI