The delay in formation of a Greater Brahmapur has exposed the Government’s much-touted seriousness on implementation of Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP), the blueprint of which was prepared ten years back with an aim to integrate Brahmapur city with some of its adjacent areas and NAC towns like Chhatrapur and Gopalpur to form Greater Brahmapur.
The proposal for formation Greater Brahmapur seems to have encountered some unwarranted hurdles due to lack of a clear-cut policy of the Government, sources said.
Mention may be made that the Brahmapur Regional Improvement Trust (BRIT), which was formed in 1976 for development of Brahmapur city and its adjoining areas, was dissolved in the 1990s after fifteen years of its formation. In the meantime, though more than twenty years have elapsed, no full-fledged Master Plan has yet been prepared.
Ten years back, the Government had taken initiative for preparation of a CDP (Comprehensive Development Plan) and tender was invited for its implementation. After scrutiny, the tender submitted by a Hyderabad-based firm quoting Rs 30 lakh was approved. In 2007, the Urban Development Department of the Government cancelled the tender for reasons best known to it.
later, the preparation of work of the CDP was entrusted to the Town Country Planning Organisation (TCPO), a body under the Ministry of Urban Development Department of the Central Government with an estimated expenditure of Rs 1,08,85,000. As per the plan, 317 square kilometres from 139 Mouza including Brahmapur, Chhatrapur and Gopalpur are to be included in it. Under the proposed CDP, the total population would be 6,01,000 as per the 2011 Census.
According to information, the officers of the TCPO visited the place and collected the required satellite pictures which were shown to the district administration in the Rushikulya Conference Hall of the RDC (Southern Division) on June 27, 2009. After a preview of the pictures, the then Collector of Ganjam had suggested certain corrections and revisions in the plan. But revisions after revisions are being made along with new proposals, as a result of which the CDP still remains inconclusive.
After taking views of various engineering organisations and competent technical bodies, different strategic places have been identified in the CDP. According to sources, the frequent visit of TCPO officials on the pretext of finalising the CDP, the BDA has already spent more than Rs 80 lakh, but in vain.
According to Planning Member of the BDA RK Sahu, the CDP has already been finalised after an ultimate stage of consultations with the TCPO officials in Delhi and it is going to be notified only after the period of the model code of conduct of the Election Commission comes to an end. After the CDP’s notification in the Gazette, the views of the public and important bodies would be taken into consideration, after which the prepared CDP would be implemented.
There is, however, a public perception that the huge amount spent for its preparation should be brought under public audit and the officials responsible for its inordinate delay should be made
accountable.