Bhubaneswar, Aug 19 - Orissa Wednesday asked the central government to extend the long-term assistance to the state's backward Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput (KBK) region.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik met Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and sought approval of an eight-year prospective plan starting from 2009.

Patnaik said the state government has spent 99.81 percent of the special central assistance of Rs.1,703.95 crore allotted earlier.

The state has submitted a demand of Rs.4,550 crore.