Nitish seeks central aid for development of Bihar

Industries are growing but there is still a huge scope and potential for industrial growth in the state, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said.

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday said his government required Centre's support in the form of a 'special category status' to push the state's all round development especially in the industrial sector.

"We are working in every sector. Industries are growing but there is still a huge scope and potential for industrial growth in the state. We have Industrial Incentive Policy but it requires support from central government... Be it a (new) package or repackaging of old ones, whatever is given I would not mind," Kumar said while addressing ADRI silver jubilee function here.

"If the state is granted special category status, it would bring investments as people would get tax exemptions and other benefits. People are watching Bihar as a destination with lots of curiosity because of the fact that it is related with their history," Kumar told a conference of the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI).

ADRI has organised a five-day international conference starting today in the state capital on 'Development and Growth: Experience and Theories'.

Kumar said it was ADRI which first prepared a report that Bihar should get 'special category status'.

Quoting ADRI's member secretary Shaibal Gupta, Kumar said Bihar had constantly been ignored and meted out with injustice both during British regime and post independence era, irrespective of the party which ruled at the Centre.