Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 27: Reaffirming Centre’s commitment to strengthen Orissa’s economy, Union petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan Saturday claimed around Rs 1.5-2 lakh crore would be given to the state from coal blocks auctioning in the next 15 years.
Rebutting state government’s claims of Central negligence, Pradhan said the Centre has taken some Orissa-centric decisions which would definitely boost the state’s beleaguered economy.
That apart, royalty generated from coal blocks auctioning and sales tax revenue will also go to the state, the minister claimed.
Pradhan was in Bhubaneswar to take stock of the measures in the wake of Bharatiya Janata Party’s national president Amit Shah’s two-day visit to Orissa, beginning January 6. “BJP is focusing on states like West Bengal, Orissa, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Assam,” he added.
The oil minister slammed the state government for increasing value added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel and said it is state government’s prerogative to bring down the taxes. “Ruling BJD is simply resorting to shadow boxing while alleging negligence by Centre,” Pradhan said.
“If tax levied on petrol and diesel is increased, people will continue to get their vehicles refueled from neighbouring states with lower taxes,” he said, adding, “If taxes are high, business will go down”.
A nation-wide scheme of increasing LPG cylinder consumer base would be launched from January including in all the districts of Orissa.
Pradhan said the Centre is trying to increase Orissa’s existing LPG consumer base from 27 per cent to the national average of 60 per by 2016. He asked the officials to provide cooking gas cylinders at Rs 1200-1300 to BPL category people.
“During these three months, below poverty line (BPL) people would be given LPG cylinder connections at concessional rate so that more and more people will be benefitted,” he remarked.
