Now focus on Panda Infra nexus with BJD
Coming from the horse’s mouth, the demand for probe into the BJD leaders’ link with Panda Infra Projects Private limited which executed the killer Bomikhal flyover cannot be brushed aside. The flyover which collapsed twice in the last seven months clearly points to sub-standard work being maintained by the contractor. Damodar Rout’s statement has added strength to the allegation of investment in the project by some ruling BJD leaders. Rout has demanded a probe into the alleged link of ruling party leaders with the contractor. On what basis the officers suspended for dereliction of duty in the previous incident were reinstated but the construction company was let scot free and allowed to continue the work, said Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, after visiting the accident spot on May 6. He lashed out at the Government for showing favouritism to a black- listed construction company despite repeated mishaps. Two mishaps occurred in a span of seven months, this time killing a worker and injuring another. Reappointment of NK Pradhan as Secretary (Works) with full powers of the Chief Engineer raises doubt on the motive of the Government. A demand for probe into the whole affairs relating to the award of contract and its aftermath is being made from various circles.
Not meeting deadlines a setback for UDAN
The Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme has a technical snag and there will be further delay to launch the scheme, according to the Air Odisha officials. Jharsuguda being an industrial hub, visibility owing to ambient air pollution will be affected especially during night landing, they say. But was this not known to them while declaring June 14 as the date for flight operation from Jharsuguda to Bhubaneswar, Raipur and RanchiIJ Now, temporarily though, the long standing demand for air connectivity to the western Odisha region is not going to be fulfilled soon. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) recently gave a month’s time to the Air Odisha and the Air Deccan for starting operations on routes bagged by them in the first round of bidding under UDAN regional air connectivity scheme which aims to connect un-served and undeserved airports as well as to make flying more affordable for passengers. Jharsuguda, dubbed as an un-served airport, is second in Odisha to have received the DGCA licence after the Biju Patnaik International Airport at Bhubaneswar. Other airports selected to provide regional flight connectivity under the Centre’s flagship UDAN scheme are Utkela (Kalahandi), Jeypore (Koraput) and Rourkela. They are likely to be given clearances by the Civil Aviation Ministry soon. But expectations are running high as one has to hold breath and wait for the day when the real UDAN will take place in the Jharsuguda sky.
Rehab row hits MCl production target
The Mahanadi Coal Fields limited (MCl), pursuing a policy of wait and watch in rehabilitating the prospective displaced persons of Tumulia gram panchayat and neighborhood areas under Hemgiri block, has resulted in a five-day long disruption of coal production and dispatch. The protesters had closed down operations of Kulda and Basundhara open cast mines. They were demanding immediate finalisation of the project affected family (PAF) list to ensure early disbursement of land compensation and jobs to them. A survey to identify project-affected families had started in the year 2012 with cut-off year as 2010. As the survey is incomplete, those entitled for jobs under the rehabilitation scheme have already lost eight years. Because of the stir, if MCl suffered a production and dispatch loss to the tune of 2 lakh tonnes, its target to reach 100 million tonnes per annum will be a far cry. Besides, the coal giant is also facing technical complexities towards operating new mines. The 100 MTPA target, therefore, remains a distance dream. Thanks to the district administration, the five-day long stir has ended after assurance of the authorities concerned to resolve the issue soon. There will be more such operational closures, unless the genuine issues of the project-affected people are addressed.
Political will needed to meet regional aspirations
In order to bring western Odisha districts at par with other developed districts of the State and also to generate a sense of confidence among its people, the Government should address certain issues which are basic in nature. One of those includes the Orissa High Court bench. If granting a new Statehood is not within the immediate agenda of the Central Government, then the long awaiting aspirations of the people to get justice at their doorstep could be achieved by fulfilling their much cherished desire. Paucity of fund and the distance factor prevent the litigants to knock the door of the judiciary from far off areas of western Odisha. Similar is the case with language of the region. Mere recommendation for constitutional inclusion of the language named ‘Kosli’ without pursuing further to make it happen is like a fraud perpetrated on the innocent populace who never resorted to violence for getting their demand fulfilled. What is wrong if the Government suo moto declares this as the second official language of the StateIJ