N'kalebar infra mess: Cong demands CM resignation

State Congress president Prasad Harichandan on Friday hit out at the State Government for its gross failure in completing Nabakalebar infrastructure facilities in and around Puri within the stipulated time.“Firstly, the Government has set May 31 deadline for completion of all the infrastructure projects and latter extended it for three times. Now, it has set a fresh July 10 deadline. I don’t think the same would be completed by that time,” Harichandan told reporters here.

Maintaining that the annual allocation for Nabakalebar has been hiked from Rs 6 crore in 2009 to Rs 30 crore now and special budgetary allocation of Rs 239, 39, 99,000 has been made for the festival, Harichandan alleged that the Government has failed to utilise the funds.Giving details about area-wise allocations, the PCC president said the Government has made Budget provision of Rs 305 crore for upgradation of electricity infrastructure, Rs 117 crore for drainage works, Rs 70 crore for Malatipatapur Bus Terminal, Rs 16.48 crore for temporary shelters, Rs 150 crore for health services, Rs 81 crore for underground sewerage system and Rs 300 crore for drinking water.

Ironically, official sources maintained that a sewerage system upgraded at a spending of Rs 81 crore has been washed out. Besides, the repairing works of the Grand Road and existing bus stand at Puri are yet to be started, rued Harichandan.Harichandan said even though three new hospitals in the pilgrim city have been set up recently, as many as 16 doctor posts are lying vacant there.

“At least 1,368 tube wells are found to be defunct. Jaundice is also spreading across the district as 350 persons have already been admitted in different hospitals. It is learnt that more than 800 people are affected in the disease,” said Harichandan.Speaking over the transfer of Principal Accountant General Amar Patnaik to Kerala, he said the AG was transferred as the Government fears that he would expose the irregularities in the Nabakalebar spending. He also targeted the Chief Minister for not acting against the DGP for touching Daitapatis’ feet while in uniform. Among others, spokesperson Girija Sankar Das and Sougat Mohanty was present.