Eminent cardiovascular surgeon Dr Ramaraman Sarangi, who is contesting as an Independent candidate on ‘Coconut’ symbol from the Cuttack-Barabati Assembly constituency, has raised pertinent questions about the crumbling urban infrastructure of Cuttack.
He has sharply criticised both the ruling BJD as well as the Opposition party leaders of the city for their failure in including Cuttack in the list of sixty cities earmarked for Central assistance under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renew Mission (JNNURM).
Dr Sarangi has pointed out that the JNNURM was a flagship programme launched by the Central Government in 2005 for a seven-year period (up to March 2012) to encourage cities to initiate steps for bringing phased improvements in their civic service levels and later extended by two years up to March 31 of 2014. It would have been instrumental in modernising Cuttack, which is in desperate need for improving its infrastructure in terms of solid waste management, drainage, road and urban transport, etc, with flow of Central funds.
Dr Sarangi stated, “The conscious and self-esteemed voters of Cuttack will show their disappointment with their public representatives for not being able to raise voice for development of Cuttack in adequate measures in the upcoming elections for Cuttack not being featured in the list of cities under the JNNURM while Bhubaneswar and Puri got listed.”