land hitch behind Brahmani bridge delay
In a review meeting with the Chief Secretary of Odisha in the StateSecretariat, the NHAI authorities have said that concrete road from Barkot to Birmitrapur in the National Highway No. 243 is divided into three segments. They can start the work of the 6 -lane 2nd Brahmani bridge of Rourkela only when 90 per cent of the land is transferred to them. This segment consists of a total 29.1 km stretch out of which 12.62 km of land is yet to be transferred. This portion of land comprises 4.81 forest land which remains to be transferred to the NHAI authorities. Earlier, there had been confusing statements by leaders of various political parties and a blame game was on. The imbroglio continued quite long, and now, when the cat is out of the bag, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is hiding its face. Before making a hue and cry on the issue, including spoiling the valuable time of the Assembly, couldn’t they check the factual accuracyIJ What an end to the long political slugfest indeed! Making mountain out of a molehill has become the habit of the politicians these days.
Mahanadi bias embarrassing for BJP
The Mahanadi water row where Chhattisgarh is alleged to be the villain No. 1 by the BJD Government of Odisha has turned ugly as the Centre has been charged of taking a partial view because of its own Government there. Once agreed for a tribunal to resolve the water dispute between the two States, the BJP- led NDA Government has gone back on its promise and instead filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court with dubious reasoning for turning down Odisha’s request. This created a spark in Odisha Assembly leading to constitution of an all party committee led by the Chief Minister to meet the Prime Minister. Earlier, such a committee had met the President of India and apprised him of a series of illegal construction of dams and barrages by the Chhattisgarh Government upstream Mahanadi. The BJD also tried to raise the issue as an election plank before the PRI election in its own State but failed to convert the same into a popular demand in the affected areas of the State. But this time, the Opposition seems to be more serious on this. Some of the Central parties have also commented on Odisha’s demand for the tribunal as genuine. Affidavits and counter affidavits are now before the Supreme Court on the basis of which the apex court will pronounce the verdict. Meanwhile, 14 political parties of the State, including the newly registered outfit KJD, have planned for a sit- in at Jantar Mantar to protest the Centre’s apathy to Odisha. By keeping itself out of the committee, the State BJP is pitted against a conflict of interest between the party and the State.
Regional imbalances report gathers dust
Years after the BJD got the public mandate to come to power in Odisha, its Government constituted a Regional Imbalance Commission under the chairmanship of retired Justice SK Mohanty of Orissa High Court. The commission had also some expert members of various subjects related to the inquiry. The commission submitted its report four years later in 2008. In the last session of the State Assembly which was abruptly ended, BJP member Dilip Ray had raised questions regarding the date on which the inquiry commission submitted its reports, what are its recommendations and whether the Government has taken any step to implement any of the recommendations. In reply, Planning and Co-ordination Minister Usha Devi said the inquiry commission set up in 2004 submitted its report in 2008. The report is now given to a sub-committee chaired by the Development Commissioner with Secretaries of eleven departments as members. The subcommittee has met once in a year in 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2015. This sub-committee also consists of seven other members, including former Vice-Chancellor of Sambalpur University Dr PK Pati, Professor of Economics Dr Prasanna Tripathy, Prof PC Mohapatra and four others. Out of these members, Dr PK Pati, who is no more, still exists as a member according to the statement of the Minister. But that is not the issue. The crux of the issue is how with so many intellectuals, the committee has failed to arrive at its analytical conclusion in nine years is the moot question. Who can convince this Government that Odisha cannot be among the developed States of India unless it ensures an inclusive growth strategy for OdishaIJ
After plastic egg, it is plastic flour now
Some brands of atta alleged to be having plastic contents sold in the local market of Paradip town were found. They were adulterated as children developed stomach pain and other ailments after eating the spurious substance. It was plastic egg earlier and now it is plastic flour. The flour is manufactured in local grinding mills and the dishonest businessmen sell it by packing after names of branded companies. They have even withdrawn those particular brands from the market against which complaints were made by the consumers. It is difficult to make the dough as 70 per cent of the atta is not blending with water properly. Moreover, the dough can be stretched like rubber and it burns if set on fire, they say. According to doctors if plastic is consumed on a sustained basis, it will lead to hormonal imbalance, indigestion, absorption problems, birth defects and even cancer. Even as there is a spark of panic in Paradip town, the Health Department is said to have collected samples of wheat flour for sending it to the Food Safety departments for tests to know the quality of the atta. Till then selling of the particular brand of atta must come under the close scrutiny of the officials concerned. Plastic egg to plastic atta, those creating health hazards for innocent consumers must get exemplary punishment.