Paradip MlA and Excise Minister Dr Damodar Rout inaugurated 14 small projects for Paradip Municipality slum area on February 24 last.
The projects included drinking water supply pipe line to a slum, a community centre, CC roads, drains and street lights. The areas of the projects are Ward 2- Bali plot, Rajeev Nagar, Ambika Colony road and drain work, Ward 3-Community Centre for luckpada, bridge and Sukhuakhala road, Tarinigada road, Ward 4 Bhitargarh Colony CC road, street light from Dochhaki to Bhitargarh, Ward 5 CC road for Balijhara slum and drainage facilities.
However, the inauguration of a slew of projects on a single day by Rout was criticised by Congress and BJP units of Paradip. local Congress unit president Ranjan Kumar Das questioned the sincerity of Rout toward Paradip’s growth. He said Rout was virtually sleeping for the last 35 years and never thought of these projects. However, since the Paradip Municipality election is nearing, Rout has gone the extra mile to attract voters, Das said
. Das also criticised the BJD Government for neglecting Paradip in the last 10 years as drinking water facility and electricity supply are yet to be provided to the slum dwellers under the Municipality area though the party pledged to provide these amenities in its election manifestoes in 2005 and 2010.
Paradip BJP president Sukanta Mohanty, vice-president Aditya Ranjan Routray and senior BJP leader Nirmal Kumar Swain also flayed Rout’s works which they said are politically-motivated. Swain told Rout is representing Paradip for the last 35 years and his nominated persons are ruling the civic body but in terms of amenities, the port town has been quite neglected.
