Utkal Bharat chief and former Baleswar MP Kharabela Swain flayed the State Government for its inefficiency to expedite various projects in the State which are otherwise getting delayed for long.
He questioned the timing of laying of foundation stones of railway over bridges proposed in Baleswar and Soro which have been a long standing demand of the local residents. He said when the foundation stone for the bridge at Soro was laid recently by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after two years of a proposal, it is sure to take a long time for the bridge to be completed.
Citing that a rail flyover at Raindia of Bhadrak for which foundation stone was laid by then Railway Minister Vasan Gowda in 2002 was completed in 2010, he criticized the utter incompetency of the State Government that has been causing delays in every project.
He said although a reputed magazine had rated Naveen Patnaik as best Chief Minister 12 years ago, it has recently mentioned Odisha to be the poorest State, having relegated in several fronts.
According to Raghu Rajan Commission report, Odisha is the least developed State. The State couldn’t enhance its agriculture production in last one and a half decades and is producing 14.05 quintals per hectare against Andhra Pradesh’s 31.48 quintals. The farm land is fast going into the hands of the corporate heads, while the farmers and daily wagers are made idle by the Re 1- a- kg-rice scheme and other doles, said Swain, adding that thousands of crores of rupees are returned to the Centre due to non- utilisation in development projects.
Swain said his party would fight the general elections on its own strength without any kind of tie-up with other parties. He also scotched a rumour that he would join his old party BJP.