Before the visit of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to Sundargarh on February 16, the Rourkela BJP in an open letter has alleged that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ditched the Rourkelites during his over 20 years tenure and foundation stone laying for many projects was done by him most often while not a single project could see the light of the day.
The BJP staged protest recently at the foundation stone laying places, to remind of the betrayal of the BJD and its supremo.
The letter said during 2014, the Chief Minister had laid the foundation stone for the Wholesale Market Complex at Balughat, Panposh but the work had not yet started. Similarly, on July 13, 2013 without any tender and other official activities, the Chief Minister had laid the foundation stone of Koel barrage which was still in cold storage, it added.
The letter said further that ten years ago, the CM had laid foundation stone for a Medical College at Kuanrmunda but the project was yet to take off.
The BJP has also asked, “What about your promise to the people of Rourkela before last election on establishing 2nd branch of Xavier Institute of Management here? Chhend Central Park which was declared seven years ago is yet to start. When 70% ESIC beneficiaries are available in western Odisha, why have you ditched the residents of Rourkela by shifting the ESIC Medical College from here to Bhubaneswar? Besides, what about the announcement of Rs 160 crore for BPUT development?”
With the effort of the then Union Minister Jual Oram, Rs 10 crore had been granted for Vedvyas hanging bridge, which has not yet been executed, the party slammed. The letter further said that it had also been announced that Rourkela Government Hosptal would get district level hospital status and poor persons would be provided treatment at Hitech Medical College with Rs 10, but these big announcements have appeared hollow now, the BJP charged.
On Friday afternoon, State spokesperson Dhiren Senapathy and other leaders of BJP demanded a reply from the Chief Minister on these points.
Significantantly, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to visit Sundargarh on February 16 and lay foundation stone for 271 new projects in the district.