Bhubaneswar:The Odisha government sought Rs8.24 lakh crore from the 15th Finance Commission.

The Odisha chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the Commission chairman NK Singh seeking Rs 8.24 lakh crore during the Commission’s recommendation period 2020-25

The chief minister held a meeting with the Commission along with his ministers and senior bureaucrats, here on Wednesday.

“We have submitted a detailed memorandum to the Commission. I am hopeful that it will incorporate all our suggestions and aid in the rapid progress of Odisha,” said Patnaik.

The state government has suggested in the memorandum that the devolution of Central taxes be increased to 50% from the present 42%, Central cess and surcharge be made a part of divisible pool, 1971 Census taken as devolution criteria, and extend GST compensation to states for 10 years besides spending clean energy cess on coal be spend in coal bearing areas.

The chief minister also sought a special package of Rs 1500 crore to build more cyclone shelters and improve disaster warning system in the state.

Highlighting the achievements of the state government, the chief minister said the state has achieved the highest poverty reduction in the country — 24.61 percentage points decline — with 80 lakh persons coming out of poverty in the last decade.

He said Odisha was the leading state in rural housing, completing a record 20 lakh houses since 2014.

While reiterating his demand for Special Category Status (SCS) for the state before the 15th Finance Commission, the chief minister said that the Odisha requires special dispensation for its growth has stunted due to continuous Central neglect and frequent natural calamities.

“Our pace of transformation has been remarkable and our growth has been inclusive. Unfortunately, successive Central government has ensured that Odisha remains at the bottom in tele-intensity, railway network, banking and highways compounded by neglect in industrial corridor, coal royalty, drinking water and irrigation and cutting off funds for Scheduled Areas and Kalahandi Balangir Koraput region,” said the Chief Minister.

“It is in this premise of historic Central neglect and frequent natural calamities that my government has been demanding Special Category Status for Odisha which will supplement our efforts in transforming the state,” he added.