Mahanadi row: BJD at it hammer and tongs again
Water flow from the Kalma barrage has been restored after the intervention of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik through a letter written to Chhatisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh hinting at moving the Supreme Court for not heeding to the request of a neighbouring State to release more water from the barrage. The closure of the barrage gates last week had created uproar downstream of the Mahanadi in Odisha and led to mudslinging between the BJP and the BJD. The BJD first raised the issue before the PRI polls and went at it hammer and tongs to make it a poll issue but could not garner public support. It was put on the backburner after the panchayat polls. However, the ruling BJD swung into action only after the media exposed the moves of the Chhatisgarh Government ahead of the monsoon. Reports from the Hirakud Dam said inflow into reservoir has dropped to zero even as the outflow is 15,323 cusecs. The water level at the dam stands at 603.77 feet. According to the Chhatisgarh Government, one gate of Kalma barrage is open throughout the year and now to address the concern of the Odisha CM, another gate has been opened. MP Prasanna Acharya in reaction to the statement of Minister Jual Oram on this issue has challenged him to come up with the facts. He should talk in the interest of the State where he is born and brought up and should not have a bias to save the BJP Government of Chhatisgarh because of his party affiliation. Oram had blamed CM Patnaik for his delayed move on the issue of water sharing between the two States. The Chhatisgarh CM has advised the Odisha Government to refer the matter to the CWC but the latter insists that the Centre set up a tribunal to resolve the crisis.
State’s lukewarm response to R’gada Central project
A mega food park set up at a cost of Rs 80 crore is a Central Government project for the tribal district of Rayagada. The project being the first of its kind should have been welcomed by the Government of Odisha but its lukewarm response to the project is not only surprising but has raised a political controversy. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik not attending the launch ceremony despite being invited by the Union Food Processing Ministry well in advance speaks volume about his stand. The Ministers, who were supposed to attend the ceremony in absence of the CM, were also conspicuous in their absence. Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Food Processing Minister Harprit Kaur Badal and MP lal Brihari Himrika were present at the ceremonial launch of the park. Absence of State Ministers, including the CM, has given a message that all development projects are election driven and politically motivated. Kuar reminded Patnaik a day before to attend the function and her confidence of the latter’s presence was based on their family relation where her father Prakash Singh Badal and Biju Patnaik had an emotional bond. But it looked this was sacrificed at the altar of political arrogance.
Nalco stir attributed to management callousness
Work at smelter, power plant and mines was affected on Tuesday when more than 5,000 employees of Nalco smelter and power plants stopped work to protest the Centre’s reported decision to offload more shares - beyond the current 66 per cent - which they fear would pave the way for privatisation of the company. About 3,000 employees and labourers joined the 24 hour strike by locking the main gate of the refinery in Damanjodi. Both workers and officers of Nalco resorted to the strike, protesting the alleged move by the Central Government for fresh disinvestment in the ‘Navratna’ PSU major. Nalco co-ordination committee president PK Mallick said, “The strike hit work at both the facilities at Angul and at the mines of Damanjoli. There was skeletal employee in the smelter and the power plants as no one reported for duty. Those who were on night duty continued working on the next day inside the plant”. According to the Nalco management, the strike was based on rumour that the PSU is going to be disinvested and privatised. Resorting to strike without any proper notice could be= termed as ‘wild cat’. The management insisted that there is no proposal for privatisation and such strikes have an impact on production and sales. Apart from the loss, the paramount concern is for safety of employees and equipment since flash strikes in the thermally sensitive unit expose the employees and equipment to several safety and security risks. Sources put the loss caused by the agitation at over Rs 10 crore on that day. Analysed post facto, the strike seems to be one in agreement with the management. They are supposed to monitor all actions of their employees and the unions and calling it a flash or a wild cat strike is therefore not convincing. It is a management failure as they should have smelt the rat in advance.
Kesinga flyover work not smooth sailing
The National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) has finalised the plan for a 200 feet width four lane flyover at Kesinga. An amount of Rs 204 crore has already been placed with the department concerned to begin the work. Construction of this 3km long flyover may commence anytime but the survey report which has enlisted the plots earmarked for acquisition contains error and therefore is not full proof. The alleged wrong entry of plots in the survey report will be approved by those who are to be affected.
The need for a flyover is genuine as the railway drop gate causes traffic jams for hours, sometimes 15 to 18 hours a day. The highway passes through the heart of the town and strategically the road has been widened to dovetail with the flyover needs. But, the flyover after construction is not likely to address the basic issue and a general feeling prevails that the plan needs a course correction.
Some people even allege that the survey report has been intentionally manipulated to favour some rich and powerful persons so that the project did not see light of the ray. The new bus stand is an example of getting embroiled in court cases. Construction of the flyover may face a similar hurdle.