New Delhi: The Orissa government Thursday participated in a national workshop on Smart Cities, organised by NITI Aayog, but refrained from holding any discussions and addressing the gathering unlike other states which had scheduled deliberations with stakeholders here.
As per schedule of the two-day event, many states had planned to address the gathering and give presentations on many issues but the Orissa government seemed to be holding not a single discussion in the two days if the schedule released by Niti Aayog is to be believed.
While Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Karnataka, New Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and several other organisations like Law Commission, Gates Foundation, Mc. Kinsey and Company, SEBI and other associations had their sessions enrolled, the state government seemed to have taken no such prerogative. While many principal secretaries from these states participated in the event, only Arvind Rout, Chief Finance Officer of the Orissa government, participated in the Niti Aayog deliberations.
The session was attended by Union MoS for Urban Development and Housing Hardeep Singh Puri, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajeev Kumar and officials from other states. The Orissa state representative confirmed that there was no discussion planned.
The workshop was scheduled for January 11 and 12, with day 1 focussing on Municipal Finance and day 2 on the Smart Cities Mission.
Vice Chairman evades boycott question: Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajeev Kumar when asked by
Orissa POST for his reaction to the recent decision of the Orissa government to boycott the national consultative meet under the ‘Prahari system’ organised by the think tank here, he evaded the question.
PNN