Bhubaneswar, Feb. 9: Union minister of rural development Jairam Ramesh has reminded Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik that the UPA government does not discriminate in the matter of sanctioning development projects and programmes to the state.

Ramesh made this observation while releasing Rs 948 crore for Odisha on Thursday to take up construction work of roads under the Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

The funds would be spent for construction of 511 roads with the total length being 2,046 kilometres in 13 Integrated Action Plan districts.

Earlier on September 2012, the ministry of rural development had sanctioned Rs 1,498 crore to facilitate the construction of 823 roads with the total length amounting to 3,143 kilometre.

“With these two approvals, the total sanctions to Odisha in 2012-13 under Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojana would be Rs 2,446 crore,” Ramesh said, adding that Rs 2,475 crore was sanctioned for Odisha in 2011-12.

Stating that the UPA never discriminates while allocating funds to states, Ramesh said: “Our sanctions are constrained only by the capacity of the states to absorb and spend -funds.”

For the last few years, Odisha has been complaining about the Centre’s apathetic attitude towards the cause of the state.

The BJD had organised a series of meetings on the issue of Centre’s alleged negligence to the cause of the state.

However, Ramesh vehemently denied the allegations and tried to project himself as a friend of Odisha by sanctioning a number of projects for the state.