A two-day RPDAC (Rehabilitation and Periphery Development Advisory Committee) meeting held at the office of the RDC (Northern) here ended on Wednesday with a series of decisions for development of Sambalpur district.
Dr Pramod Meherda, who is the chairman of the committee, directed the Bhushan Steel and Power ltd to complete the construction of a model bus-stand at Ainthapali by the end of the current year. The project cost for the bus-stand would be Rs 11 crore.
The work of installation of CCTV cameras is going on at all State Government offices in Sambalpur town and Bushan is on for the purpose of monitoring the activities of the officials. The RDC directed that the work be expedited and completed it in the shortest possible time period. At the same the time, beautification of the Ainthapali Chowk and lighting arrangements would also be done by the same company, he said.
The RDC asked the Hindalco at Hirakud to complete the construction work of an indoor stadium at Burla and also to develop the local water bodies. The company was further directed to develop the playground at the Commissioner’s Colony used for sports and games throughout the year. The RDC directed the company authorities present for acquisition of the lands where crop loss takes place almost every year due to chlorine gas from the smelters. “Acquisition of such land with adequate compensation can put an end to the problem,” the RDC observed.
However, the first day of the meeting was not a smooth one. The RDC and all other RPDAC members were not happy enough over the activities of the local industries, particularly the Aditya Aluminium. Aditya Aluminium is not keeping its promises. It has also failed in giving employment to locals,” alleged Sambalpur MP Amar Pradhan. The RDC also agreed with Pradhan and directed the company to be careful in future.
The situation came to such a pass that the meeting had to be closed before time due to the dissatisfaction of all the members, including the chairman, in this regard. However, members praised the development activities of the MCl as it is fulfilling its promises. It was decided that the MCl would take up the doubling of the ring road on the Mahanadi, a ropeway from Gandhi Minar to Jawahar Minar at the Hirakud Dam, renovation f the Ajodhya Sarovar, development works at the VSS Medical College and that of the Budharaja temple in Sambalpur city.
“The MCl will spend Rs 8 crore from its periphery development fund. And the rest of the funds will come from the CSR allotment,” sources said. The total expenditure would be around Rs 30 crore, they added. All other RPDAC members, including Rengali MlA Duryodhan Gardia, and senior officers of the district participated in the meeting.