Modi for early revival of Kutch economy

By Our Special Correspondent

GANDHINAGAR, OCT. 20. The Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, has suggested advancing the target date for revival of the economy in the earthquake-devastated Kutch region by normalising the trade and commercial activities by December 31.

He told the trade and commercial sectors during his two-day visit to the district, his first since he took over as the Chief Minister, to re-engage themselves for expediting the activities to revive the economy of the district.

The previous Keshubhai Patel Government had set March 31, 2002, as the target for the normalisation of the trade and commercial activities in the region.

Mr. Modi said with the co- operation of all, it should not be difficult to achieve early results.

He recognised the problems facing the trade and industry in the district including the delay in the government notification for Sales Tax exemption as announced earlier.

He promised to take the necessary steps immediately after his return to the State capital.

Mr. Modi claimed that even those who were earlier criticising the State Government for the alleged delay in the removal of the debris and expeditious implementation of the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts by the State Government were now appreciating the administration's progress in the task.

It was a complex task and yet the State Government produced much better result than seen elsewhere in the world, he said.

The Industries Minister, Mr. Suresh Mehta, who continued to be in-charge of Kutch rehabilitation and was among those present on the occasion, claimed that the State Government's rehabilitation package for the earthquake-affected was the most humane since the entire social and economic life of the people in the district had gone haywire due to the calamity.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Next     : H.P. asked to tap hydel potential fully