Bihar trade body demand special status for state

Patna, Feb 19 (PTI) Bihar Chamber of Commerce todaydemanded that the Centre accord special status to the stateand will submit a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil, thefinance minister and state governor.

A decision to this effect was taken by an executivecommittee meeting of Bihar Chamber of Commerce, its presidentO P Sah said.

Sah said it was long-expected that the Centre wouldprovide economically and industrially backward state status toBihar and would frame special norms for the state at parwith Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and North Eastern states.

He further said the state''s bifurcation had completelychanged the development parameters, particularly in terms ofavailability of resources and hence framing of special normsfor the state had become imperative for removing the prevalenteconomic imbalance.

Sah said the trade body was grateful to Chief MinisterNitish Kumar for his efforts to secure the status for Bihar,which is required for its rapid development.