Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he foresees the second Green Revolution taking place in eastern Indian states as they have abundant resources and need to develop their economy.

Referring to the economically more advanced west coast of India, Modi said: “States in eastern India – be it Bihar, Bengal, Odisha or the northeast are powerful states… (West) Bengal is filled with natural resources but is still lagging behind in economic development.”

He said with eastern India accounting for the major share of India’s natural resources besides availability of optimal manpower, states in the region are in the best position to usher in the second Green Revolution, which will trigger a series of developmental activities in the region.

“East India needs to be strengthened… I clearly see the second Green Revolution happening here… East India has abundance of water, land and people. It can usher in the revolution,” he said.

Referring to the economic inequality of states, Modi said states in western India were economically more prosperous than in the eastern part.

He referred to the presence of coal mines in the eastern India, and said the region cannot be left off the path to development.

“The coal mines are located in eastern India and the region which has so much natural resources should not be left poor,” he said.

Modi was speaking after dedicating to the nation the revamped IISCO plant here.