Government-sponsored corruption has reached the pinnacle in the State during the Naveen Patnaik Government, alleged Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at a programme held to welcome former IAS officer Aparajita Sarangi to party on Saturday.
Giving an example, Pradhan said the State Government changed the PWD code and framed rules to award work orders of Government projects worth up to Rs 5 lakh without tenders. Earlier, the limit was Rs 50,000.
Alleging that many projects were distributed without tenders by Water Resources and Works Departments during Patnaik’s stint, Pradhan said the Chief Minister has opened way for party workers to take PC. Projects worth Rs 10,000 crore under Non-plan Budget have been distributed without tenders, he said and wanted to know whether awarding Government works meant the CM’s 3Ts.
He ridiculed the State Government for its promise to provide 70 lakh smart phoned to SHG members saying that Odisha stands 29th in the toilet construction in the country.
He wanted to know why the Chief Minister delayed in approving Aparajita Sarangi’s retirement application under the VRS while the application had reached the CM office within 24 hours from it was submitted by Saranig on September 15.
He called upon party workers to work hard so that the BJP would form the Government in the State and effect developments only.