The BJP on Thursday alleged that the possible drought situation in the State is manmade and an outcome of ineptness and inefficiencies of the Water Resources Department headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Addressing a Press meet, BJP State general secretary Bhrugu Baxipatra made this allegation. “The BJD had promised to irrigate 25 per cent of lands in 2000, 25 more lands in 2004, 35 per cent in 2009 and 10 lakh hectares in 2014. If irrigation facilities had been created, there would not have been any drought following scanty rainfall in State,” he said.
He said lack of irrigation facilities in the State came to light during the drought in 2015-15. In a reply to an Assembly question, the Chief Minister had stated that onloy 11.09 lakh hectares of land, which constitutes 18 per cent of the total, were irrigated by 2015-16 Kharif season. In view of the information provided by the Chief Minister, is not it that all promises made by the BJD are like a line on the water,” wanted to know Buxipatra.
He too alleged that the Chief Minister has not provided information on funds allocated for various projects and about contractors who were awarded works even as many questions were put in that regard in the Assembly since 2012-13.
The BJD should make it clear as to why the Chief Minister remained silent on above questions. Was not it an intention to protect contractors or to cover up the Government’s inefficiency, wanted to know Buxipara.
Among others, State Secretary lekhashree Samantsinghar and spokesperson Sudipta Ray were present.