Water row may spell BJP poll debacle in 2019
Even as the Mahanadi water row with Chhattisgarh continues to worry the BJD Government more than the farmers and industrialists of Odisha, another BJP ruled State Jharkhand is playing foul with water streams of rivers Koel and Sankh. The twin river meets at Vedvyas and from there starts Odisha’s second biggest river Brahmani passing through five districts of the State before getting merged in the sea. As a result of the barrage constructed by the Jharkhand Government at Gumla in 2008, water level in Koel river is receding during non-monsoon season. Now, a big dam is being built to produce electricity to the tune of 710 mega watt which will further reduce the water level of Brahmani. It is surprising that the crisis was unforeseen so far. Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are BJP ruled States and unless the Central Government intervenes for an amicable settlement of the water dispute, then Odisha farmers will suffer the most. The Odisha BJP, which has been repeatedly assuring the people that the State’s interest will not be sacrificed, will have to come out with a formula that can satisfy Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha once and for all. If the Mahanadi is the lifeline of Odisha, the Brahmani is the second biggest river catering to the needs of farmers and the industrialists downstream covering five districts. The Hind Mazdoor Sabha in its State executive meet held at Talcher has drawn the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the issue. As the general election of 2019 is fast approaching, any further delay will damage the wining prospect of the BJP which is leaving no stone unturned to consolidate its position in Odisha and upstage the BJD. The warning is clearly written on the wall.
‘PC’ culture: CM caught on wrong foot
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was caught on the wrong foot while advising the district Collectors to keep a strict vigil on bribery in the form of percentage (PC) share indirectly admitting the prevalence of the system associated with corruption. This was bound to evoke sharp reaction from the Opposition parties, which lashed out at the Government, particularly against the CM. It is often alleged that some MPs and MlAs of Odisha while awarding a contract take minimum 10 per cent of the projected value as bribe in advance. The Collectors monitor the MP and MlA lAD funds but shut their ears and eyes when money changes hands. Such practice of corruption is rampant in the State and the truth was revealed when it came out from the horse’s mouth. Evidence of taking PC for allotment of Indira Awas in Subdega block of Sundargarh district has come to light recently. Bribing the authorities for getting contract is an old age practice prevalent in our country and if Bihar took the lead once upon a time then Odisha was not far behind. Crores of rupees have changed hands not only during the 17-year rule of the BJD but even during the Congress regime. Muti-crore scams have come to hog the limelight in the past. The old scandal is replaced by a new and the vicious cycle continues. Accidentally though, CM Patnaik has admitted about the existence of a PC culture in the State knowing well that rooting out the evil is a Herculean task. The BJP was in coalition Government for almost nine years but never questioned BJD’s integrity because it enjoyed the alliance of convenience.
Debi-Tathagata spat: BJD rattled after PRI poll defeat
The truce between former Minister Debi Prasad Mishra and MP Tathagata Satpathy looks temporary. In a Hindol meeting, Tathagata had directly attacked Debi Mishra calling him a “thief”. The hatchet remains open-ended and probably still not buried even after the intervention of BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik. Baijayant Panda, Bhartruhari Mahtab and Tathagata Satpathy have earned wrath of the party chief after expressing their dissatisfaction in the media. The ruling BJD turning violent after BJP’s success in the PRI polls is a fait accompli. It has been proved beyond shreds of doubt that the BJD is involved in the egg-hurling incidents which occurred during the visit of the Central Ministers to the State. Coupled with the internal squabbles in the party, the development is indicative of the ruling party’s bleak future as it may fuel the anti-incumbency factor. The BJD workers are up in arms against the trio as they are encouraged by some disgruntled elements in the party. It seems they want to get into the good book of the CM and wait to make hay when the sun shines.
Burla MCH lacks angiogram test facility!
The VIMSAR, the second biggest Government medical college of the State, surprisingly doesn’t have an important facility like angiogram test. Expecting such facility in the nursing homes of neighbouring Sambalpur is a cry in the wilderness. A senior scribe suffering from a heart disease in Sambalpur had his tryst with destiny after being referred to the AMRI Hospital, Bhubaneswar for the test. While preparing his travel plan, he got information about one ambulance of the AMRI Hospital returning empty to Bhubaneswar from Sambalpur. The journalist and his wife approached the ambulance which carried them toBhubaneswar. As ill luck would have it the ambulance met with an accident on the way in the wee hours of June 7 and the couple was injured seriously - the scribe with a fractured leg and his wife with brain injuries - were admitted to the AMRI. The scribe is recovering but an orthopedic case will take time for heeling. His wife is lying unconscious in the ICU for more than a fortnight now. The hospital has raised ad hoc bill for about Rs 1 lakh against treatment of the scribe alone. Now the question is if the accident had occurred due to the negligence of the ambulance driver supposed to be an AMRI employee, then does it not become the responsibility of the hospital authorities to treat them freeIJ This is a live example of what could happen when healthcare facilities are not available at door step. A reputed hospital of the State without facility for angiogram test is not only deplorable but speaks volume against the Government which tom-toms its health sector performance.