The BJP on Saturday alleged that the work of the proposed 415-km Digha-Gopalpur Coastal Highway has been delayed as the Naveen Patnaik Government has suggested many changes after DPR approval and is delaying giving statutory approvals for construction of the highway.
“While the proposed Digha-Gopalpur Coastal Highway has all possibilities to become a lifeline for Odisha’s economy, its work has been delayed as the State Government has suggested many changes at different times and is not expediting land acquisition and providing forest clearances and other statutory requisites required for the project,” alleged BJP leader Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra at a Press meet held here.
Reacting to Sanjay Dasburma’s reported remarks that the Union Government and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan are responsible for delay in coastal highway work, Mohapatra said, “While he was a Minister, Dasburma held a meeting on alignment of Satapada-Puri road with the coastal highway and suggested changes four months later, which delayed the project first. Later, incumbent Minister Maheshwar Mohanty also made suggestions on the alignment, which became another reason for delay,” said Mohapatra.
He too stated that the Chief Secretary suggested nine changes after in-principle approval of the coastal highway project. CRZ approvals in packages, forest clearance in eight packages and wildlife-related clearance in two packages have remained pending without cooperation from the State Government.
Besides, the State Government’s Coastal Zone Authority has not yet given permission for construction of a bridge over Chilika lake, he said. While 10 different tenders have been finalised, the coastal highway work has not been stared due to availability of land and statutory permissions from the State Government, he said.
Among others, BJP State general secretary Bhrugu Baxipatra and secretary Dilip Mallick were present.