Gujarat CM for express energy corridor to send surplus power to deficit states

Gandhinagar

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today described the Zonal Council meetings as a powerful platform to discuss threadbare a wide range of subjects of mutual interest within the federal democratic structure.

Addressing the 21st Western Zonal Council meeting presided over by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at Panaji in Goa, she called for greater investment in the region with tremendous scope for development, looking to its strategic location facing the sea.

Giving details of the Commando training centre by the Gujarat Police, she suggested setting up a ‘centre of excellence’ for the zone. For internal security, she said that although 15 percent of Gujarat’s population comprises tribal people and yet it remained free from Naxal movement because of the state’s proactive pro-tribal policies. It vindicates the theory that development keeps insurgency away.

Mrs. Patel said that Gujarat is now a power surplus state, but in absence of any express energy corridor, it cannot send surplus power to deficit states in the south India.

While the western states are more developed than many other states, she said that Gujarat has undertaken effective steps to check industrial pollution. She suggested evolving Marine Outfall Norms from effluent treatment plants by the Central Pollution Control Board.

She attributed the World Bank’s recent state-wise ranking Gujarat as the best state in ‘Ease of Doing Business’ to the state government’s transparent, dynamic policies and good governance. She exuded confidence that Gujarat would provide effective support to the emergence of India as a Super Power under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mrs. Patel cited Gujarat’s initiatives in setting up ‘slum-free cities, building affordable housing, skill development centres for youth coming from poor and middle income group families to provide jobs on merit.

Talking about social-economic parameters, she called for co-operation and sharing data by states on crimes, including human trafficking. She said that Gujarat has taken several gender equality and women’s welfare schemes like 181 Helpline ‘Abhayam’ to provide 24×7 for their security and safety.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat, and Administrators of Daman-Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.

Senior officers accompanying the Gujarat Chief Minister included Chief Secretary G.R. Aloria and Additional Chief Secretary J.N. Singh.

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