CM Meets PM, Union Ministers
Jaipur-Jodhpur-Bikaner-Pali-Mount Abu-Sambhar Mega Tourist Circuit
Jaipur, The Chief
Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
and the Union Ministers of Home, Finance, Water Resources, Tourism in New Delhi
on Wednesday. During these meetings, she held discussions on various matters
related to development of Rajasthan, challenges before the state and sought
special assistance from the central government for early resolution of issues.
This was Smt. Raje first formal meeting with the PM Shri Modi
since he assumed office on May 26. During the meeting, which lasted for about
45 minutes, the CM apprised the Prime Minister about various issues of the
Rajasthan's interest in detail. She said that the state needed additional aid
from the union government in view of its peculiar geographical conditions,
frequent droughts due to insufficient rains and scarcity of surface and
underground water.
The Chief Minister told Shri Modi that geographically Rajasthan
was the biggest state of the country and it faced several challenges including
the security of the longest international border. The cost of development was
more in comparison to other states in the deserts, hilly terrains and tribal
regions. In such circumstances, several criterions for the central assistance
were not applicable for Rajasthan, she added.
Smt. Raje further stated that access to electricity, water, road,
medical facilities and other basic infrastructural services at the
remotely-situated villages and small hamlets was a very big challenge. In view
of such conditions, a special central assistance for Rajasthan would be
appropriate, she demanded.
Smt. Raje also informed about different measures being undertaken
by the state government for empowerment of women and particularly the Bhamashah
Scheme. She apprised the PM about several issues of Rajasthan being pending
before the centre for decisions and demanded for early disposal of the same in
the interest of the state and its people. The centre should give top priority
and full co-operation to Rajasthan for its overall development, she added.
Meeting With Home
Minister
During her meeting with the Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, the
Chief Minister demanded for additional central government assistance for
modernization and rejuvenation of the Rajasthan Police. She further suggested
for security arrangements at the national heritage sites and renowned religious
locations like Dargah Ajmer Sharif, Pushkar and Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara,
by the agencies such as the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
The Chief Minister said to Shri Singh about being extra-alert
towards the border areas of the state and particularly Munabao. She attracted
theHome Minister's attention towards the fact that Rajasthan had the longest
international border and to deal with the security-related challenges associated
with this fact, modernization of the state police force urgently needed
additional central assistance.
Smt. Raje also said that Rajasthan was destined to face frequent
droughts and famines. Every year some of the districts or the entire state
suffered due to insufficient rains. Therefore, the central government's
assistance under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) for drought-relief works
for 90 days was not enough, she argued.
The Chief Minister suggested for making the criteria of the
central Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) to be more practical and demanded that
famine or drought-affected regions should be provided with the central
assistance for relief works throughout the year. Such relief works should be
allowed to be operational under the supervision of a state-level committee, she
added.
CM Meets Finance Minister
The Chief Minister requested the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun
Jaitley for additional financial assistance for Rajasthan from the centre in
view of the peculiar geographical conditions of the biggest state of the
countryin terms of area. She informed Shri Jaitley about the poor fiscal health
of Rajasthan due to financial mismanagement by the previous government during
past five years. She asked for the centre's support to improve upon this situation.
The Chief Minister also suggested the Finance Minister to protect
interests of the states while imposing the Goods and Services Tax (GST). She
further assured the centre to extend full support from the state government in
implementing the GST regime.
Meeting With Water Resources Minister
The Chief Minister sought the union government's help in resolving
the inter-state water issues at the earliest, while meeting the Union Minister
of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Ms. Uma Bharti.
This would ensure Rajasthan getting its due share of water for drinking and
irrigation purposes, she said.
The CM demanded a special package under the Accelerated Irrigation
Benefits Programme (AIBP) of the central government for the desert state. The
Chief Minister also told Ms. Bharati that the problem of water pollution in
Sutlej river in
Punjab region was very acute and stated that severe contamination was causing
destruction of crops in Rajasthan. Human population of the region was also
getting inflicted with serious health problems like skin diseases and cancer
etc, she said.
Smt. Raje asked the centre to take serious measures in direction
of having some control on the serious situation of water pollution and issue
appropriate directions to the Government of Punjab on this. After meeting, the
Union Minister Ms. Bharati acknowledged that Rajasthan was water deficient
state. The centre would extend all possible support to Rajasthan in fighting
the problem of scarcity of water, she said.
Meeting With Minister of State For Tourism
In yet another meeting with the Union Minister of State for
Tourism and Culture (Independent Charge) Shri Sripaad Yasso Naik, the Chief
Minister demanded for a special package for Tal Chhapar wildlife sanctuary in
Churu district from the central government along with additional funds for
several other tourism projects in Rajasthan.
Smt. Raje told Shri Naik that the invaluable treasures of heritage
at Kalibanga and Bhatner (Hanumangarh) in Rajasthan were in dilapidated
condition. The Archeological Survey of India was urgently needed to be issued
directions to start renovation works at these sites immediately. Experts' help
should be taken for conservation of these places of heritage to attract more
tourists and researchers, she added.
She asked for a special central assistance for the newly proposed
Jaipur-Jodhpur-Bikaner-Pali-Mount Abu-Sambhar Mega Tourist Circuit. She also
demanded for financial support for developing a convention centre in Rajasthan
and the Great Indian Travel Bazaar being organised in the state.
The Chief Minister said that her state had a special identity on
the global tourism map. She observed that every tourist of the world attempted
to visit Rajasthan to have a look at the beauty of art, culture and history of
the state.
The Chief Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, Additional Chief Secretary
(Home) Shri Sunil Arora, the Director General of Police Shri Omendra Bhardwaj,
Principal Secretary Finance Shri Subhash Chandra Garg and Principal Secretary
Relief and Disaster Management Shri Kunji Lal Meena, Principal Secretary
Tourism Shri Shailendra Agarwal and Director Tourism Shri Vikram Singh also
accompanied the CM during these meetings.
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