he Planning Commission has finalized the Annual Plan of over 23 thousand crore rupees of Chhattisgarh for the year 2012-13. The plan was approved in a meeting between Deputy Chairman of the Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister Dr.Raman Singh in New Delhi. Later Mr Ahluwalia said that the focus is on inclusive growth . H e said that higher investments will also be made in agriculture to improve productivity and income in the state.

Madhya Pradesh has the maximum area under forest cover among all the states in the country, an RTI query has revealed.

According to the latest India State of Forest Report 2011, 11.24 per cent of the total forest land in the country is in Madhya Pradesh.

Ministry of Environment and Forest in reply to an RTI query said that Arunachal Pradesh with 67,410 kms under forest cover stood next to Madhya Pradesh, while Chhattisgarh stood at third position with a forest cover of 55,870 kms.

The Chhattisgarh police said that it is working on a strategy for the early and safe release of the abducted Collector of Sukma district, Alex Paul Menon.

Meanwhile, guard of honour was given to both the security guards of Mr. Menon, who were killed by the naxalites in Majhipara when they resisted the Maoists' attempt to abduct the Collector. A Bandh has been called in Sukma and Konta in support of the safe release of Mr. Menon. Student rallys have also been organised in different parts of the Bastar division today following the incident. Mrs. Asha Paul Menon, the wife of the abducted Collector has appealed to the Maosits to release her husband on health ground. The IAS Association of Chhattisgarh has also passed a resolution, appealing to the Maoists to release Mr. Menon.