All support to UP on central-aided projects: Jairam Ramesh

Lucknow, March 31 (IANS) Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh Saturday assured Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav that no central-aided projects in the state would be left hanging at the central level.

"We may be political adversaries but I have assured the chief minister that there would be no roadblocks and he would get all support from the central government," Ramesh told waiting reporters outside the 5, Kalidas Marg residence of the chief minister.

The union minister also praised the chief minister for being "very environment friendly" and hoped that in the coming months, the state government would take major steps to improve the environment, including the pollution of the river Ganga.

Emerging after a meeting with the young chief minister, Ramesh said he had wide-ranging discussions with him and recalled that in the past too, they had been pally since Yadav has had his education from Karnataka, his home state.

"I am sure, under him the state would become conscious of its responsibilities towards nature." He further informed the media persons that the new government, unlike its predecessor Mayawati government, would work in tandem with the central government so as to ensure all-round development of the most populous state of the country.

Talking about his present ministry - rural development, Ramesh said many centrally- sponsored schemes were mired in graft and hoped that with a new government at the helm, "things would change for good" in Uttar Pradesh. The union minister also rued the fact that while a series of corruption charges were levelled against the past government, no one from the cabinet nor the then chief minister cared to meet him and explain the situation.

He also reiterated his demand for a CBI probe in the bungling in the MGNREGA projects in three districts of Uttar Pradesh -- Gonda, Sonbhadra and Balrampur.