Odisha Planning Board yet to convene in ten years

Bhubaneswar: The State Planning Board of Odisha hasn’t held any meeting for nearly one decade.

The startling piece of information was revealed by Planning and Coordination Minister Usha Devi in a written reply in the State Assembly today.

While Chief Minister is the Chairman of the State Planning Board, it had last met on October 15, 2015, the Minister said in her reply.

Though former minister Bishnu Das was appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the Board on March 18 this year several posts of members are lying vacant.

According to the provisions, the Board should have two educationists or economists, five social workers, one industrialist and two MLAs as its members. It is learnt that these posts are lying vacant since 2015.