8 Odisha dists backward in Niti Aayog list
Despite the KBK, the Biju KBK and the Backward District Development Schemes launched by the Central and the State Governments, eight districts of Odisha, namely Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Balangir, Dhenkanal, Koraput and Rayagada still remain backward in the Central list for which eight IAS officers have been named to focus their attention and implement Central schemes to bring those districts on par with other developed districts of India. The KBK region has four out of eight districts named for Central attention. This means out of nine districts which were included under the KBK scheme, four are no longer in the Central list of backward districts. They are Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada and Navrangpur. It should be normally welcomed by the State Government but the BJD smells a rat in this and it seems the ruling entity is afraid of losing ground politically at the expense of the BJP cornering the credit. The Centre has appointed eight IAS officers known for their dynamism but the State Government being unhappy about their appointment has decided to boycott the Niti Aayog without any reason. The BJD says the move is politically motivated. But the question is what about the report of its own commission set up under Justice SK Mohanty which has submitted its report in 2008, four years after its constitution. Why is this report shelved for nine years now on the pretext of being reviewed by a sub-committeeIJ Odisha stands third form the bottom in the list of developed States and regional imbalance continues to be its bone of contention. If the Centre comes forward to develop those eight districts, shouldn’t it be welcomed and allowed to do soIJ This way, the State Government can rather ask the people of those districts to wait and watch and catch them wrong if they failed to do so. The Central efforts to develop the districts earlier having been failed and the State Government’s sincerity for an inclusive growth of the State being questionable, development is but the only casualty.
Penalty row: Mines’ closure to hit economy
The Odisha Government on Monday issued closure notice to seven working mines that failed to comply with the Supreme Court order to pay penalty for excess mining without statutory clearances. The lessees, who have been asked to suspend mining operation forthwith, include State PSU Industrial Development Corporation of Odisha ltd. (IDCOl). About 42 leaseholders have paid the penalty for irregular mining not ‘illegal’ as it has been termed because they hold consent to operate order from the appropriate authority and legally run them. The penalty is for excess mining which will have an adverse impact on the economy in the mining belt of Sundargarh, besides Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Koraput. There is a possibility of a chaotic situation as disruption of mineral supply will hit production in metal based industries. Given the harsh regulations, contradictory legal provisions, and complexities in getting single window clearances there are apprehensions on opening of new mines in the near future. For Koida Mining Circle (KMC) of Sundargarh district, a troubled future awaits as non-captive mines are getting closed by March, 2020 because of non-preparedness both by the Central and the State Governments to timely auction the mines and operate them to stem the threatening economic chaos of the region. Extension of mining lease beyond March, 2020 may be an alternative to mineral shortage when the Governments are not prepared for auctions.
Bargarh Dhanu Yatra losing relevance!
The 11-day-long open air festival has lost its sheen. The festival which marks the victory of good over evil has done out its relevance and is being used for political purposes. The culture of inviting the local officials as guests and providing them special seats and turbans to wear has apparently undermined the significance of the festival and trivialised Kansa’s importance. The Government officers who were once in awe of Kansa and took lessons from the opera have turned this into a mockery. A committee was formed earlier comprising 11 life members and presidents and secretaries of the registered clubs but the committee got divided over personal issues and supporters of the political party in power started organising the festival until the district administration stepped in. Allegations of fund mismanagement and misappropriation have surfaced but when it comes to Government explanation through RTI, the reply is “Dhanu Yatra doesn’t come under RTI purview.” locals claim that the district administration is not doing justice to the festival. lack of transparency and commercialisation is said to be reason for this world famous open air opera to have lost its relevance. The organizers are alleged to be running out of ideas as innovation is lacking to hold the public interest sustainable.
K’handi Bhangabari MCH still nonstarter
The announcement of a medical college for Kalahandi soon after the Dana Majhi’ incident that exposed the poor healthcare status in the tribal dominated district has been alleged to be a political stunt of BJD before the PRI election. A year after the announcement by the Chief Minister himself on November 16, 2016, Bhangabari where the college is proposed to be set up, still remains abandoned except a portion of the boundary wall raised to keep up with the symbolic announcement of the CM. Construction work of the institute scheduled to be completed by 2018, admission of the first batch for under graduate medical courses commencing in 2019-20 academic year seems to be a far cry now. The Vedanta Foundation was supposed to extend financial support of Rs 100 crore for building up infrastructure for the college but a Germany based architect firm which was engaged to design the infrastructure is yet to submit its design. The Government wanted to use the defunct campus of the veterinary hospital spread over 80 acres of land. The existing infrastructure was demolished to pave way for construction work but the progress is not even minimal. In the PRI election, Mayurbhanj and Kalahandi had given a severe jolt to BJD. The Baripada Medical College because of a damage repair exercise commenced as per schedule but Kalahandi has miles to go. Meanwhile, the Opposition has upped its ante to link the fate of the MCH with that of the ruling entity in next election.