Senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra on Monday hit out at the BJD Government for its “Central neglect” bogey and said the State would get a total of Rs1,12,677 cr by way of Central assistance in the next five years which is 165 per cent more than last five years. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Rourkela had in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that Odisha would get Rs8,231 cr towards its share from Central taxes in 2015-16 fiscal as per the recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission,” Mohapatra told reporters here on the occasion of the 36th foundation day of the BJP.
“Neither the Chief Minister opposed the statement of the Prime Minister on the dais in Rourkela nor did he place his view before the PM in Delhi in this regard. Instead, the BJD is crying ‘Central neglect’ and regularly taking to the street on this plea. Hence, the State Government is betraying its own people,” said Mohapatra. He also maintained that the Prime Minister has already announced to give Rs50 cr more for the Nabakalebar festival besides the Rs50-cr assistance announced by the Union Tourism Ministry. While the Panchayati Raj Department would get Rs8,850 cr in 2015-16 fiscal, the municipalities across the State would also get Rs1,772 cr during the period, he said.
“The ‘Central neglect’ is not an issue now. Proper utilisation of Central funds is a big problem with the State,” Mohapatra said. Mohapatra said the slogan of Central neglect of Odisha has become an old issue. The State Government’s negligence towards its own people is the main issue now in the backdrop of the CAG report which revealed severe indiscipline of the State Government in utilising Central funds. Giving instances of the BJD Government betraying people, Mohapatra said the Government has announced in the Assembly that it would file a review petition at the OERC on the power tariff hike issue. “Though more than 15 days have elapsed in this regard, nothing tangible has happened as yet,” he pointed out.