Waterline solution
Apropos the Polavoram issue, a simile can be drawn between the Indian cricket team and the Government of Odisha. Our cricket team suffers from a late rise syndrome which means it wakes up only after getting a couple of defeats in the beginning. In other words, in a bid to make over the loss of points in the preliminary round, the team puts its best foot forward to muster strength for victory. But there is a risk.
That is why it is said, ‘a stitch in time saves nine.’ The effort of the Odisha Government is similar to that of the cricketing approach of our players. On the Polavoram issue, it allowed the Central Government an olive branch in the beginning. The UPA-II during its regime had a good understanding with the undivided Andhra Government when the project was launched and given the final shape. Odisha’s protest was too feeble to be heard in Delhi. And now when million cusecs of water have already flown in river Godavari, the Government has suddenly woken up to stall the process of execution till the order of the Supreme Court. The Odisha Government is pressing its demand against raising the height of the dam which will affect 15 revenue villages of 10 settlements. If that is the issue then, the Government should clarify its stand whether the project should be pushed ahead with the level of height fixed earlier and subsequently raise it after rehabilitation of the affected villages and the people living there. The Government counsel should utilize his faculty of discriminate intelligence and submit an affidavit on these lines before the apex court to facilitate judgement and maintain good relations with neighbours.
Embittering corruption
Ask Minister for Excise Dr Damodar Rout and he would not favour a complete ban on sale of liquor. Despite women wings throughout Odisha belligerently expressing their discontent asking the Government to declare Odisha a dry State, the Minister, known for his Nigerian look and art of repartee, would pass the buck to the Chief Minister at the first instance. But when push comes to shove he makes a statement on the floor of the Assembly that his Government is not interested in raising its revenue through sale of liquor. Sale of liquor including the spurious one which led to hooch tragedies in the past is the real concern. What a statement! It was as if all such tragedies in the past occurred during periods of total ban in the State. Habits die hard and therefore it is difficult to de-addict the people overnight, he stated in the Assembly. This year’s revenue from the State excise will surpass the last year’s collection, as young boys are also caught on charges of driving drunken and mercilessly fined to swell the State’s coffer. But the fact remains that political leaders and police personnel including those in the Excise Department get monthly allowance proportionate to their ranks from the ‘Bhatiwalas’. Given this background, declaration of dry State will be suicidal for the bureaucrats in this category. let Damababu keep his hands on his chest and say he is ignorant about this embittering corruption!
Call a spade a spade
The Government’s concern to wipe out regional imbalance by setting up a commission is like playing to the gallery. Dilip Ray questioned this in the last Assembly session to which Planning and Coordination Minister Usha Devi replied, “The report is under examination by a sub-committee and hence not published.” But what about the time frame, if there is anyIJ
The report was submitted by Justice SK Mohanty Commission in 2008 after four years of its constitution in February, 2004. Since then a sub-committee has been examining the report. The seriousness of the Government can be gauged from the fact that this sub-committee met five times in seven years. In the absence of any action taken on that report for the preparation of which a lot of time and money has been spent, it is an unpardonable act. The commission is learnt to have identified around 50 per cent blocks in bordering and tribal sub-plan area as backward, having made important suggestions for their development. Examining the report of a commission for long seven years questions not only the competence of members comprising the sub-committee but also the intention of the Government. It also justifies the demand for State’s bifurcation on regional disparity ground for which a campaign is already on. It is incomprehensible why the Government is shy to call the spade a spade!
Govt fees in pvt colleges!
The Supreme Court has nullified the verdict of the Orissa High Court in the matter of admission of Sardar Rajas students who have been running from pillar to post for the past six months. The apex court in its verdict has directed the students to seek admission in three private medical colleges of the State for which they will pay fees at par with the Government colleges. But what will happen to the Selvan Trust which violated the MoU signed with WODC and whether expenses incurred in earlier admissions by the students will get reimbursed, is a pertinent question, which the court is yet to answer. Punishment for breach of MoU and the State Government going for a new medical college being the popular opinion, the issue still remains unresolved. A ‘pass the buck’ attitude of the State Government at the same time is deplorable.
(The writer , a former PR Manager of SAIl in Rourkela Steel Plant, a former Vice-Chairman of PRSI, Orissa Chapter, is a functional Editor of English weekly ‘Kosal Horizon, email : baidyanathmishra123@rediffmail.com,Cell : 94370 83025)