Bhubaneswar, Nov. 10: Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik has demanded that the Centre should provide necessary budgetary support to states with poor resource-base to help them fork out the matching share for smooth implementation of development schemes.

Addressing the regional conference on mid-term appraisal of the Tenth Five-Year Plan at Calcutta yesterday, Patnaik said implementation of the employment guarantee scheme would help Orissa find answers to the problem of rural unemployment.

However, in view of the resource constraints, it would be difficult for the state to provide the matching share, he said and suggested that it should be fully funded by the Centre.

The chief ministers of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia were also present in the meeting.

Talking to reporters in the evening after his return from Calcutta, Patnaik said he also stressed the need for a proper drainage system and provision of clean drinking water as well as the development of infrastructure in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

He hoped that the mid-term appraisal would result in the emergence of appropriate corrective measures.

Patnaik highlighted the achievements of his government in cutting costs and generating revenue and said the ratio of revenue deficit to revenue receipt has been reduced from 43.74 per cent in 1999-2000 to 15.1 per cent in 2003-04.

He also submitted a detailed horticulture development plan for the Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput region.

Patnaik pointed out that royalty on coal and other minerals had not been revised and the shortfall in release of the share in Central taxes was over Rs 2,584 crore for the period between 2000-01 and 2003-04.