Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has put forth a slew of demands at the NITI Aayog General Council meeting held in New Delhi on Saturday.

Majhi has sought the Centre’s support for required for establishment of large-scale port-based industrial zones in areas surrounding the existing ports of Dhamra and Gopalpur; while further developing greenfield ports at Astaranga, Palur, Bahuda, and Subarnarekha. In this regard, salt pan land of around 4300 acres owned by the Central Government in Ganjam district may be transferred to the State Government early, he added.

Similarly, the Chief Minister has demanded dedicated budget allocations and quick clearances from the Union Government for various infrastructure projects such as Industrial Parks and Corridors, Electricity Grids, Railway Infrastructure and enhanced air connectivity.

Besides, Majhi has sought financial support from the Central Government for the creation of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in power, telecom sectors and coastal saline embankments to help the State in minimising the adverse consequences of cyclones and floods while pointing out that though Odisha is prone to natural disasters, has emerged as a pioneer in disaster management, demonstrating remarkable resilience.

As a potential green economy, Majhi has demanded the required support for Pumped Hydro Storage Plants (PSPs)projects, Floating Solar Projects and intra-state green energy transmission corridor projects.

Further, the Chief Minister has asked the Centre to expedite opening more numbers of brick & mortar bank branches and ATMs in the unbanked/ under-banked Gram Panchayats to ensure financial inclusion.

Majhi has pointed out that Odisha is rich in mineral resources and is a leading producer of various minerals in the country. He has asked for the Central government’s support to move up the value chain and produce special metals and alloys for aerospace and defence.

Stating that Odisha has a lower railway density compared to the national average Majhi asked the Centre to consider increasing railway density in Odisha.

He said that with over 33% forest cover, Odisha plays a crucial role in environment protection. However, the state’s high forest cover limits its ability to utilize land for development projects, affecting its economic growth. He urged the Central government to consider incentivising Odisha to reduce its carbon footprint and render ecological services.

The Chief has further pointed out that Odisha has a growing pool of talented tech professionals, a thriving startup ecosystem and an ambitious Semiconductor Policy, making it an ideal location for making a Semiconductor Hub. He has sought the support of the Government of India for attracting Foreign Direct Investment and State-of-the-art technology for design and manufacturing semiconductors in the State.