Though the final selection for Smart City would be held on July 23 after a scrutiny of documents by five Municipal Corporations of the State under the chairmanship of the State Urban Development Secretary, but the speculations are rife that steel city Rourkela could stand the test. Besides, it is also assumed that of the two State quotas, Rourkela could enjoy one after Bhubaneswar.
Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) Commissioner DP Mohapatra who submitted reply on July 16 in response to a 15-point yardstick fixed by the Centre for eligibility for Smart City, is confident that Rourkela would surely get the tag. Mohapatra said out of 15 subjects, RMC fulfils 13 subjects very comfortably and for other two it is on the job. So at least out of 100, RMC may score 80 points in evaluation, hoped Mohapatra.
Rourkela MlA Dilip Ray said there is no reason why Rourkela would not stand the test. Similarly, Rourkela Development Authority Chairman and former State Urban Development Minister Sarada Prasad Nayak said he is confident that the RMC would get Smart City status.
Senior Congress leader and former Rourkela MlA Pravat Mohapatra said Rourkela is the only deserving contender for Smart City. He, however, said that the city had been deprived of many projects earlier due to stepmother attitude to the area. He called for a united fight to achieve the goal.
The irony is united political demands in favour of RMC have not come out here as yet unlike other cities.
Sachetan Nagarika Manch (SNM) secretary PP Ray was apprehensive that nothing will be in favour Rourkela unless a united fight was made. Citing the example of ESIC Medical College and Hospital and IIM, Ray said despite fulfilling all eligibilities, both the mega projects were not set up in the industrial city.