Centre refuses financial aid to Chhattisgarh new capital

The Centre has refused financial assistance to Chhattisgarh to construct its new capital, Raipur, foundation for which was laid by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on March 8.

There is also no provision in the ninth or the 10th five year plan for developing a capital city for Chhattisgarh, Urban Development Minister Ananth Kumar said in the letter, which was received by CM Ajit Jogi on April 4 and released to the media on Friday.

Reacting to Jogi’s letter of December 30, 2002, the Centre has also asked the state to approach the Planning Commission in this regard. When former Finance minister Yashwant Sinha visited Chhattisgarh, the state had approached him for Rs 5,000 crore for establishing the new capital, State Urban Development Secretary Vivek Dhand said.