ROURKELA: Even as the ruling BJD in the State and the BJP at the Centre continue to be engaged in political slugfest, both parties have poor track records in carrying out development projects in tribal-dominated Sundargarh district.
The political heat went up again in the district after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on December 4 expressed willingness to construct the second Brahmani bridge on National Highway (NH)-143 at Rourkela if the Centre fails to do so. The BJP reacted sharply as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced to complete the NH-143 project, including the bridge, and upgrade the RSP-run Ispat General Hospital (IGH) into a Super Speciality Hospital and Medical College (SSHMCH) in April 2015.
Sources said besides the bridge and SSHMCH projects, the NH-520 expansion work in Bonai sub-division, ongoing Bimlagarh-Talcher rail line project and introduction of commercial flights under UDAAN scheme are victims of inordinate delay. Similarly, the joint venture cement plant proposal of SAIL at Purunapani and bridge proposal at Vedvyas are hanging fire in Sundargarh Lok Sabha constituency of Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram.
State secretary of BJD AC Mohanty said in order to hide their own failures, the BJP leaders are making baseless allegations against BJD Government and pointed out that no land acquisition is required to start bridge work on Brahmani river. He recalled that when the Centre had failed to provide promised funds, the State Government constructed the Lalei and Jhirpani bridges at a cost of about `65 crore.
Mohanty also accused the Union Minister of trying to take political mileage by bending rules and alleged that Jual wanted to illegally divert `three crore from Tribal Sub-Plan and `10 crore of the proposed Tribal Cultural Centre for the suspension bridge. He also flayed the BJP Government for stopping the Koraput-Rourkela Express train six months ago.
Hitting back at BJD, State BJP secretary Dhiren Senapati said the Central Government projects are on right track and the NH and rail line works are delayed due to failure of the State Government.
Senapati claimed that except four Aahar centres, the CM has given nothing to Rourkela city in 18-year rule. He said the low-height-bridge-cum-barrage and the Wholesale Market Yard projects with a combined cost of `544.45 crore are in cold storage after the Chief Minister had laid foundation and the fate of the Truck Terminal is also uncertain. He said the CM had laid the foundation for a Government Medical College and Hospital in 2004 but it was given a quiet burial, Besides, the BJD Government failed to set up outreach campus of the IMB and is blaming the RSP of SAIL for not providing land, he added.