Prez poll: Unity a litmus test for Opposition
A Third Front alternative has raised its head several time earlier but remained unsuccessful and nipped in the bud. The JD (U) on Friday maintained that the non-BJP political parties are planning for a joint fight against the BJP in the upcoming Presidential elections. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s visit to Odisha in March followed by the visit of Mamata Banerjee last week has fuelled the speculation for formation of a non-BJP front, though Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, a likely strong partner as the chief of BJD, is maintaining a studied silence. JD (U) spokesperson KC Tyagi, while referring to the policy of equidistance from the Congress and the BJP followed by Patnaik so far, has said that time has come now for the Odisha Chief Minister to play a pro-active role in national politics like his father Biju Patnaik. But little does Tyagi know that the nicest of the nice coaxing will not enable Naveen to step into the shoes of Biju who was a storm breasting eagle and sculptor shaping the earth. If Biju was the ‘hero’ of hundreds of success stories, there is hardly anything about Naveen Patnaik is worth. However, Patnaik is yet to open his cards. He knows pretty well that the BJP would cross over the hurdles of Presidential election as the percentage of vote lies within the manageable range of the BJP. The second hesitation is joining hands with the Congress and individual aspirations of all the party heads. However, if the entire non-BJP political parties join hands to defeat the official candidate, the outcome will be a litmus test for the united Opposition to maintain its unity till the next general elections in 2019.
Don’t fool by swearing in name of Biju
Biju Patnaik had said during one of his memorable speeches that he would like to see every citizen of his State get a decent roof over his/her head. Every family gets potable drinking water and all-weather roads and bridges, schools properly manned with able teachers and hospitals with adequate number of excellent doctors. The average villagers must have communication system like telephones. He said if you want to dream, dream big. He wanted to see Odisha as a prosperous State with all-round development. He not only dreamt but many of his dreams came true. He established a string of industry in Odisha. He gave Indian politics a rare flash of colour. This was his legacy and standing up to such legacy and contribution is a daunting task. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) was born out of this legacy and promised to tread on the path shown by the legend. Another death anniversary of this popular leader has been observed and this time it was to dispel the effects of BJP’s successful national executive and Narendra Modi’s grand road show. But people judge a political party by its performance and the BJD’s 17-year rule will be judged vis-à-vis Biju Patnaik’s unfulfilled dreams. How long will the BJD fool the people by swearing in the name of the legendIJ
2nd Brahmani bridge still a nonstarter
With opening of tender for first package of NH-143 expansion deferred to April 28, the unending jinx for a six-lane second bridge on the river Brahmani continues to remain. Bid documents for the first package were to be opened on April 12. The Rs 476-crore project involves four lanes of a 29-km stretch between Biramitrapur and Rourkela, six-lane second Brahmani bridge at a new location at Rourkela, another road over bridge at TCI area and a bridge over river Sankh near Vedvyas. The delay is despite the Prime Minister Office (PMO) monitoring the project. The NHAI sources hoped the foundation for the first package would be laid before monsoon but it cannot start before March 2018 as it would take at least 9 months for the contract firm to obtain environment clearance certificate and mobilise heavy equipment and machineries. Meanwhile, inspecting the strength of the existing Brahmani bridge continues to tell the world that all is well with the dilapidated bridge. Similar is the situation with the Steel Authority of India limited. Who vows to convert the IGH into a super specialty hospital with a medical college but has dragged its feet in the name of making loss year after year. They are said to be looking for a private party but how longIJ Can they prolong the project beyond 2019IJ It seems the Union Steel Minister doesn’t care a hoot for the project. A Harianvi Jat, Birendra Singh has never inquired about the progress of the project. There is a need for pressure from the PMO as 2019 is not far away.
Severe water crisis in Malkangiri
Odisha’s southernmost district Malkangiri is facing unending struggle for daily needs of water. With mercury shooting past 40 degree Celsius, people have to trek miles to fetch water since the drinking water projects launched by the State Government have become defunct. The water they collect is from unsafe sources. In some areas through tube wells are functioning, the water is contaminated. Drying up of the water bodies such as ponds and rivers is said to be the reasons. locals have no option but to run the risk of fetching water from nullahs and rivulets. What will happen to the people during the rest of the summer months from now is beyond imagination. At least 29 pipe water supply projects in identical blocks have stopped functioning within six months after being launched. Even tube wells and bore wells are defunct. There is a similar situation in most of the towns in western Odisha where mercury has crossed 40 degree Celsius during April. Southern districts have large natural forest coverage to beat the heat, but the water crisis is manmade.