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Vajpayee promises Vananchal soon

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today promised that a separate state of Vananchal would be formed soon.

Laying the foundation for broad-gauge lines between Koderma-Hazaribagh-Ranchi and Koderma-Giridih at Maduwatarh in Koderma district, he assured the people of the tribal region of southy Bihar that their long-cherished dream of a separate state would be fulfilled soon.

Those opposed to the creation of the state that will comprise the 18 districts of south Bihar are "ignorant" as they are yet to realise that it is not the division of the state, but only the reorganisation of a big state, he said.

The prime minister said that with the completion of the railway projects at a cost of Rs6,360 million, the backward areas of Bihar would see a lot of development.

He said reorganisation of the state is necessary to ensure good administration and cohesive developmental activities.

Several states, including Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, were left out when the states had been reorganised on the basis of the language, he said, but added that the states should not be divided on the basis of language.

He said the demand for Vananchal was supported by all political parties, and a similar response was evident in the case of Chhattisgarh in Madhya Pradesh. But some politicians backtracked later when the question of carving out a state in Bihar was considered.

UNI

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