Das proposes call centre to help people in distress

Chief Minister Raghubar Das during the meeting of the national committee set up to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary called on Wednesday in Delhi suggested to start a call centre called ‘Calling Bapu’ to assist, in the Mahatma’s own way, all those in need.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union Ministers and CMs coming from many States.

The CM also suggested to make wearing khadi necessary for at least once in a week for government servants, starting light and sound shows at Rajghat and India Gate, including philosophies and visions of Bapu into syllabuses, digitisation of his works and literatures and reorganising processions taken out by the Father of the Nation during the freedom struggle.

Earlier, in a separate meeting, Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari assured Chief Minister Raghubar Das about completion of projects primarily of NH-33 and NH-75 on time in speedy manner.

The Union Minister in the meeting with the CM on Wednesday said that no further extension would be provided to the long pending project on the Jamshedpur-Ranchi highway and the Centre would take necessary step to complete it within the given time. The CM at the same time urged the Minister to initiate four-lanning of NH-75 from Kudu to Mudi Semar on the remaining 206 km long stretch.

Besides, projects about Ganga bridge at Sahibgunj, Nagri flyover and elevated three-lane road between Katchari Chowk and Piska More in Ranchi also came for discussion. Gadakri informed the CM that required processes are underway and soon the projects would be through. The CM on his part sought Centre’s support to for building road network comprising 1000 kms in the State.

Later the CM also met Union Forest and Environment Minister Dr Hasrhvardhan where issues concerning forest land and minor forest produces came for discussion. Das requested the Minister to make minor forest produces tax free so that people, especially poor tribals dependent on those can earn their livelihood.

The CM, in the lines of the provision already in place for PSUs in case of forest land diversion which allows them to pay double the price of the land diverted, demanded that to be replicated for State PSUs as well.

Also quick forest clearances were sought for developmental projects related to railway freight corridors; dedicate freight corridors, mining proposals in the Saranda area and also of the CCL and CIL projects running in Jharkhand.