New Delhi, September 01: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today lauded Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for doing a “good job” as the latter called on him to seek more Central assistance for developmental projects and tackling the drought situation in the state.
Kumar listed a host of projects, including Kosi rehabilitation and reconstruction, for which he sought special packages and reimbursement of the spent funds running into thousands of crores.
Assuring all help to the state ruled by JD(U)-BJP coalition, Singh told Kumar, “You are doing a good job. You have brought about a change in Bihar,” PMO sources said.
Meanwhile after his 15-minute meeting with Singh, Kumar told reporters that his government had spent around Rs 700 crore on constructing several stretches of National Highways in the state.
“I requested the PM to urge the department concerned to reimburse the amount, as constructing National Highways is the responsibility of Centre and we got them constructed through our own pockets for providing speedy benefit to people,” the Chief Minister said.
“Four laning of around 1,000 km of National Highways had been approved around four years ago by the Centre, but work has not started on these stretches. I requested the PM to get work started on these,” Kumar added.
He said his government has been seeking a Rs 14,000 crore relief and rehabilitation package from the Centre for the last one year, for those affected by Kosi river floods that ravaged northern Bihar last year when the river changed its course.
—Agencies