Bhubaneswar: BJD MP Sasmit Patra on Sunday raised several issues concerning Odisha like special category status, Polavaram and Mahanadi river disputes, revision of coal royalty, national highway problems, establishment of a new AIIMS and the development of tribals at the all-party meeting conducted ahead of Parliament’s winter session.
“Special category status is a long-pending demand of the people of Odisha.BJD president and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik has been demanding it. BJP had promised in its election manifesto that they would ensure special category status for Odisha if it forms govt,” Patra said.
He further said, “Now they are in govt at the Centre as well as in the state. The onus is on them to ensure and bring about special category status for Odisha. BJD would be demanding it strongly on the floor of the House.”
Patra said Polavaram and Mahanadi issues need to be solved. “We have been demanding intervention of the Centre on Polavaram, which is yet to happen,” he added.
On the development of tribals, he said the Centre should withdraw GST on kendu leaf. “Our party president, when he was CM, wrote to the Union finance minister repeatedly to completely withdraw GST on kendu leaf. We also want the inclusion of several tribal communities from Odisha in the ST list. Tribal languages including Ho, Mundari, Bhumij, Kui and Saora need to be included in the Eighth Schedule,” he added.
Patra also raised the requirement of at least three more AIIMS in state to ensure adequate healthcare services. They can be set up at Balasore, Koraput and Sambalpur. “Coal royalty has not been revised in the last 10 years and Odisha is losing thousands of crores in revenue. The coastal highway in Odisha is not being built for the last nine years. The condition of other national highways is precarious,” he added.
He said BJD will raise other important issues in Parliament. “Our party president has directed all our MPs to strongly voice their opinion,” he added.