The State Assembly on Monday witnessed strong reactions over the shifting of the proposed wagon factory from Narla in Kalahandi district to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The Speaker adjourned the House till 3 pm.
During the Zero Hour, BJD MlA Amar Prasad Satpathy raised the issue terming the move as another instance of Central neglect towards Odisha.
“The Union Government is adding salt to injuries. After providing support to AP on the Polavaram issue, it has now shifted the wagon factory project to Vizag,” said Satpathy. His party colleague Dibya Sankar Mishra too criticised the Centre over the issue.
leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said the Union Government has shifted the project much to the dismay of western Odisha people. He said the reason of water scarcity cited behind shifting is not strong enough. The State Government has also not been serious about the project. It had not provided land for the project, he alleged, and demanded a discussion on the issue and the decision thereof be sent to the Centre.
As Speaker didn’t respond, Congress members rushed into the well of the House and created ruckus. Unable to run the House, the Speaker adjourned the House at 11.58 am till 3 pm.
When the House reassembled in the afternoon, opposition members demanded for a discussion again. Unheeded, both Congress and BJP members staged walkout.
Notably, the shifting of the rail project came to the fore through an RTI application by one Hemant Panda of Tikarpara in Balangir.
In reply to his query, the Railway authorities had said that the decision to shift the factory was taken in view of the operational benefits available at Visakhapatnam.
Besides, the RTI reply also revealed that the Railway Board is currently reviewing the feasibility of the proposed wagon factory at Sitapali in Ganjam district.