New Delhi, June 26
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and demanded a special package from the Centre for the development of 16 desert districts of the state.
Ms Raje, who met Dr Manmohan Singh here yesterday, demanded a package similar to that extended to the hilly states of Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh.
Asserting that due to a “difficult terrain and lack of infrastructural facilities”, it was difficult to attract industrial investment, Ms Raje demanded additional funds for the early completion of the Indira Gandhi Nahar and the Narmada Canal projects, This was vital to meet the water needs of the desert areas.
Ms Raje also met Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and demanded a review of loan grant ratio. She also met Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Information and Broadcasting Minister Jaipal Reddy, Water Resources Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, Coal Minister Shibu Soren and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and raised several issues relating to the development of Rajasthan.
