Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary and spokesperson Dr Hamid Hussain on Tuesday alleged that the Industries and the Housing and Urban Development Departments have failed to deliver during the Naveen Patnaik Government’s 17 years of rule due to lack of leadership and vision.

“The State  Government has signed MOUs with various private companies but nothing tangible has been seen in energy, steel, sponge iron, IT and construction sectors. The MSME sector is now the worst sufferer. It has all happened due to regressive and out-dated policies,” Hussain told a Press conference here.

He too allege that the State Government’s 1,000 startup and ecotourism projects are yet see light of the day. Similarly, IT parks, mega food parks and many such other proposals have remained in promises only.

Most of the towns and municipalities are lacking proper drainage systems as a result which people have suffered diseases like malaria, typhoid and jaundice. Infant mortality is very high in these areas, he alleged.

He said narrow lanes with potholes, low-hanging electric wires and piling of garbage everywhere have added to woes of city residents, he said.

He said while encroachments of Government land in cities have increased these problems, the BDA and CDA have remained silent.

Hussain said the Government has also done nothing for slum dwellers. While three lakh of Bhubaneswa’s eight lakh population reside in slums, they do not have toilets, electrification and drainage systems. And houses have not been provided to slum dwellers.

He said the Odisha Housing Mission has failed completely.