Jairam plans development project for Junglemahal

After West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees tough stand on Maoists,who she called supari killers and jungle mafia at a public rally

After West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees tough stand on Maoists,who she called supari killers and jungle mafia at a public rally on Saturday,Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has decided to launch efforts to bridge the development deficit in Junglemahal,on the lines of his ministrys initiative in Saranda forest one of the worst-hit Maoist regions in Jharkhand.

I spoke to the West Bengal Chief Minister after her remarks at the public rally in Jhargram. I will be sending my officials to Junglemahal to identify developmental deficits and potential areas of support from our side. We will prepare an action plan in a couple of days,in consultation with the State Chief Secretary. I will also consult Mamata Banerjee on the action plan when she visits Delhi next, said Ramesh.

With Mamata expected to come to Delhi for the National Development Council (NDC) meeting on Saturday. Ramesh is believed to have asked his officials to prepare an action plan for discussion with her over the weekend.

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The move holds significance in the wake of the fact that the Chief Minister,in a dramatic turnaround,set a seven-day deadline for Maoists to lay down their arms even as she offered a multi-pronged development strategy in the region.

Earlier,Ramesh announced plans for a developmental project in Saranda forest. He was reported to have discussed the project in his meeting with Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahto in the capital on Monday.

The Rural Development Ministry has prepared the broad outlines of the action plan for Saranda,with specific deadlines for execution of various projects.

The action plan has also identified the tentative amount of central funds required,alongwith nodal agencies responsible for executing individual projects related to rural development.

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