BARIPADA: Despite Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s assurances to the people on revival of Baripada Urban Cooperative Bank (BUCB), the State Government has failed to take any step for restoration of the bank’s licence. The bank’s licence was cancelled by RBI for a finacial crisis in 2014, which has posed serious problems for depositors.The Chief Minister, during a Mission Shakti Conclave here last year, had assured to provide funds and hold discussions with the Centre to restore the licence of the bank. But even as more than a year has passed since, nothing has been done.
As many as 74,000 depositors, thus, are unable to withdraw their money and are undergoing severe agony. The BUCB has over Rs71.62 crore in deposits. Anibesh Kumar Patra of Purnachandrapur said he could not withdraw Rs25,000 from the bank for his marriage. He said depositors like him have been meeting the branch manager and other officials of the bank but in vain.
Apart from revival of BUCB, the Chief Minister had announced three other projects - establishment of a research centre for Chhau dance, construction of ring road in Baripada town and developing the Mayurbhanj Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya into a Government college during the conclave, held at Chhau Ground on January 30 last year. Everything lies in paper. District president of BJP Kandra Soren slammed the State Government for its inability to execute development projects. “When the State Government is not able to provide water to people of 28 wards from Jambhira water project, the four major announcements by the Chief Minister hold no value,” he said.
Soren alleged a majority of people who took loans from BUCB are from the ruling BJD and they intentionally defaulted on their debts. “Such defaulters have created problems for the depositors who are unable to get their principal money or interest from the bank,” he said. Collector Vineet Bhardwaj denied laxity by the district administration and said point-wise reports on progress of projects, announced by the Chief Minister have been sent to the Government.