BJP spokesperson Ramesh Bal alleged that the BJD leaders were trying to take the credit of the development works of Rourkela MlA Dilip Ray through false propaganda and were also stalling some projects of Ray with vested interest. Bal cited that during his 10-month tenure, Ray has made persistent efforts to get more funds sanctioned under BRGF, WODC, MPlAD, MlAlAD and other statutory schemes of the State and Central Governments for different development projects for the city to make Rourkela a model city.
The main problems the steel city is reeling with are drinking water, electricity, sewerage system, communication, sanitation and lavatories. The Rourkela MlA has arranged fund allocation of Rs 2 crore for digging of 250 tube wells, Rs 50 lakh for stand posts and Rs 44 lakh for six dip bore wells (for pipe water supply). For a permanent solution to drinking water problem, he has arranged Rs 79 crore from UIDSSMT (Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small & Medium Town) of the Central Government and Rs 5.52 crore and additional Rs 65 lakh from MP lAD to upgrade transformers of 71 identified slums under Corporation area.
“So what BJD had not done in last ten years, Ray has done it in just ten months. Jealous of Ray, the BJD people are trying to halt the developmental works putting pressure on the officers and engineers of different departments from Bhubaneswar in view of the forthcoming corporation election but the voters will definitely give befitting reply to it,” said Bal. He added that the BJD has been trying to mislead people by putting the Chief Minister’s photo in |ration card registration centre though it is a central scheme.
Similarly, while the Rourkela MlA has been in job for fund allocation for 250 tube wells and up-gradation of transformers for drinking water besides uninterrupted electricity to slums, the BJD people are diverting the public perception through posters and leaflets that the fund for the projects has been sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s special fund, Bal complained, warning the BJD to refrain from false publicity.