Perhaps during his 13-year tenure, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik never faced so much opposition from Congress and BJP as it happened here on Tuesday here, which is known as a bastion of the BJD.
The stiff opposition from the Congress to the Chief Minister indicates the fall of popularity of Patnaik and the local BJD leaders. The Congress which was very strong since the 80s is again re-strengthening its base under the leadeship of its DCC president Nihar Ray.
Similarly, the opposition from BJP is also a signal of threat for the BJD in the coming elections. The presence of Dilip Ray in city and his open declaration to continue in BJP has not only strengthened the BJP here but also boosted the morale of the workers, feel the political observers.
The situation was so problematic that the police had to apply its force against the Congress and the BJP protesters to clear the road for smooth movement of the Chief Minister. Despite all these, DCC president Ray could succeed to break the coconut forcibly at the inauguration spot of Basanti Over Bridge before the Chief Minister did it officially. It may be recalled here that the Chief Minister was shown black flag at Kutra a couple of months ago.
The Chief Minister visited the city for two hours to attend six foundation stone laying and inauguration programmes on Tuesday. In the face of all odds, he managed to lay the foundation stone for low height storage structure over river Koel and a Ring Road near Pump House, Sector-20 first. Then he inaugurated the BPUT administrative building, the Basanti Over Bridge and laid the foundation stone for a 100-bed ward and destitute home at the Rourkela Government Hospital. Besides, Patnaik inaugurated a new municipality building, launched a new ambulance service (108) at Uditnagar Parade Ground.
In his conventional way, the Chief Minister told about his Government’s measures for the common people, including the ambulance service, lap top to students and mobile set to farmers. He said that with the construction of the ring road on the bank of the Koel river, the traffic problem will drastically ease off, he further added.
Health Minister Damodar Rout was all praise for the Chief Minister. He said Rourkela is the first industrial city of independent Odisha and late Biju Patnaik had a very soft corner for the city. like his father, Naveen Patnaik has special fascination for the city, he asserted.
Initially, 17 ambulances were allotted for 17 blocks and another four will be allotted to the district soon. So far in a short span of four months, about 30,000 will be benefited with the scheme, said Rout. The Minister revealed that SAIl has been urged to build a medical college here.
Among others Minister Subrat Tarai, MlA Sarada Nayak, Rajya Sabha MP Mangala Kissan, WODC Chairperson Padmini
Sekhar Deo, Zila Parishad president Pitrus Toppo, MP Dilip Tirkey, District Collector Roopa Roshan Sahoo and Rourkela Municipality chairperson Rashmibal Mishra were on the dais.