Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday asked all the ministers to be present in the Assembly during the House proceedings. The Chief Minister’s directive came at the meeting of the BJD Legislature Party (BJDLP) here on the eve of the Monsoon Session. Naveen said the ministers should work in their Assembly chambers during the session and should not leave the House unless there are very urgent works.
Naveen also asked the party MLAs to be present in the House and cooperate in running it in a proper manner. His directive to the ministers and the MLAs assumes significance in view of the plan by the Opposition Congress to mount a scathing attack on the Government during the session over several issues.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kalpataru Das said the Central neglect would be a major issue of the BJD during the session. Besides giving tacit support to Andhra Pradesh Government to go ahead with the Polavaram dam project despite opposition from the State, the Centre has neglected Odisha in the railway sector too, he said.
The minister said the State Government had demanded Rs 2,345 crore for Odisha in 2012-13 Railway Budget. But the allocation was only Rs 723 crore, he said and added it has now been slashed to Rs 537 crore.
Das alleged that Central neglect of the State is there in other sectors also. Despite repeated demands and a number of representations by the State Government, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has not purchased rice from the State, he said.
Besides, the State Government’s proposals amounting to Rs 2,452 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) are yet to be approved by the Centre, he said. Refuting the Opposition allegations on the issue of mining scam, the minister said the Centre has not imposed mineral resource rent tax on profit by mine-owners despite repeated demands from the Chief Minister.
The minister said the issues were raised by several members at the meeting. Several members, including Pradip Maharathi and Anant Das, alleged that farmers in more than 500 gram panchayats are yet to receive crop insurance.
The issue would be raised by the BJD members. Besides the CAG’s indictment of the Centre over coal block allotment, its report on Delhi airport and the Centre’s failure to comply with safety norms in nuclear plants will be raised in the House.