Tussle between two departments of Himachal Pradesh Government became evident on Friday as State Transport Minister GS Balli claimed that it was all efforts of the officials of Transport department that Centre had sanctioned a fleet of 800 buses under JNNURM scheme.
The claim comes a day after Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma met Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath at Delhi and got sanction of the fleet of 800 buses which will ply in the State under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Interestingly, Balli had also met Nath at Delhi two days back before Sharma and according to sources the proposal to grant 800 buses was cleared then only but Balli was waiting to announce the sanction in Shimla. However, Sharma taking an opportunity announced the sanction of fleet of buses on Thursday itself with formal Press note coming in his name.
“I will not comment on any fight or credit claim but it is a fact that it was Transport department which had prepared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the entire project and 13 clusters were identified with the help of consultant appointed for the purpose,” said Balli after a board of directors meeting of food and civil supplies corporation at Shimla.
Total of 1,123 buses will be given by the Centre funded in 90:10 ratio while 800 buses will be given in the first phase. Balli congratulated the senior officials of transport department for working overtime and pursuing the matter with the Central Government officials. “This is the first ever major grant by Central Government to the State after the Congress Government came to power,” said Balli claiming that during State cabinet led by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the proposal was put up before him and he had directed the PMO staffs to look into the matter.
Balli also stands miffed over Sharma proposing urban mobility transport authority which would bring the JNNURM buses or any urban public transport system under the urban development department. Currently JNNURM buses in the State are managed and regulated by transport department. “Urban development department is just the nodal agency and transport department is the one which manages and runs the JNNURM buses,” said Balli.
The rivalry between Sharma and Balli is not very old and came into fore when former contested assembly election from Dharmashala in Kangra district and started gaining prominence after Congress government came to power. Balli who claimed himself, to be senior most leader, from Kangra district has been reportedly annoyed with Sharma being projected as leader of Kangra district.
Sources said that Sharma, a loyalist of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, has been given free hand in almost every matter while Balli is being restricted on numerous issues. Apparently this was also one of the reason for which Balli had offered to resign from the State cabinet some time ago.