CM's Sambalpur tilt upsets R'kela, B'pur

Perhaps, it was Sachetan Nagarik Manch (SNM), a leading social outfit of the Steel City, which was first to raise its voice for Odisha IIM at Rourkela soon after the Union Budget proposal for the premier institute in Odisha in July 2014. Simultaneously, various other organisations and individuals joined the chorus with the SNM and subsequently the demands came from other cities like Sambalpur, Brahmapur and Baleswar etc to have the proposed institute in their respective cities.

The SNM besides writing demand letter in favour of Rourkela to both the State and Central Governments had staged demonstration, dharna and bandh call in Rourkela. The hope in favour of Rourkela cropped when the State Government included Sundargarh in identification of 200 acres of land. Besides SNM, many other organisations like Rourkela Jagaran Manch and the Voice for IIM at Rourkela had taken up the issue, meeting the Collector, Sundargarh, the Chief Minister and the Union HRD Minister from time to time.

The hope had, however, vanished after taking the plea of Central guidelines, especially ‘one hour travel distance from the workable airport’, the State had proposed three places near Bhubaneswar and accordingly a high-level Central team visited all the three places to find out the best one. The hope of the denizens of Sambalpur was again rekindled in the last couple of weeks when it was revealed that the Union HRD Minister has expressed interest to have the premier institute in the western Odisha region through a letter to the Chief Minister seeking opinion of the State Government for setting up of the IIM in western Odisha, particularly in Sambalpur-Jharsuguda-Rourkela region.

Though action committee for IIM, Sambalpur immediately shown its action on it and put its pressure on the Chief Minister to reconsider the venue of IIM for Sambalpur, the other claimants were little late. Consequently, the Chief Minister on March 2 wrote a letter to the Union HRD Minister mentioning that “if the Central Government is willing to relax the guidelines for site selection, the State Government strongly recommends Sambalpur in western Odisha.” After this though it was a celebration day for Sambalpur but in steel city it was quite disheartening. SNM general secretary PP Ray said the CM’s proposal in favour of Sambalpur is not only an injustice to Rourkela but also it spells the step motherly attitude of the State Government to Rourkela.

“While legendary Biju Patnaik had special thrust for Rourkela but his son Naveen Patnaik is in a spree to neglect Rourkela. Due to his apathetical approach, the steel city was deprived of the ESIC hospital and medical college here, while the much-awaited Talcher-Bimlagarh train line construction work is delayed for decades.  

No attention is given to the second Brahmani bridge and High Court Bench at Rourkela either. So enough is enough and the SNM will intensify its agitation against the apathy,” warned Ray. Though Rourkela MlA Dilip Ray expressed happiness over the development in favour of Sambalpur but he said he would be happier if it was in favour of Rourkela.

Rourkela BJP president Dhiren Senapati alleged though Rourkela was the most suitable place for IIM and NIT, Rourkela Director had already given assurance to extend all support for temporarily running of the campus for the time being, the State Government opined in favour of Sambalpur keeping in view of the forth coming Sambalpur Corporation election at the cost of Rourkela.

Rourkela BJD president Ananad Mohanty said as per the Centre’s guideline, Bhubaneswar is the only suitable place for the IIM. But now the Union Government has shown its interest to have it in western Odisha and accordingly, the Chief Minister has recommended in favour of Sambalpur.

Similarly, the Forum for IIM, Brahmapur, a civil body fighting for establishment of IIM in the city, staged a demonstration led by forum convener Prof PK Panda reiterating its demand that the State Government recommend Brahmapur as location for the national institution on a priority basis to the Centre.

Forum member J Suresh said sheer negligence has been meted out to the silk city even though denizens have been demanding establishment of the premier business school at Brahmapur since beginning.

“The State Government’s recommendation looks very partial if a changed location is considered. When Sambalpur has no airport facility in its vicinity, Brahmapur can be a better place as the Biju Patnaik International Airport at Bhubaneswar is just 150 km from here. Besides, Brahmapur deserves the IIM most as it does not have a Centre-run educational institution,” Suresh argued.