Chief Minister Raghubar Das gave a ray of hope for dry Palamu region by promising water for drinking and irrigational purposes from River Sone. The water from the major tributary of the Ganga would travel through hundred kilometers long pipelines.
Addressing a public meeting after laying foundation for rural roads and bridges for the district worth Rs 4000 crore on Sunday, the Chief Minster also set a deadline for starting the ambitious project that can change the fate of the otherwise drier region has seen series of droughts in recent times.
"It is the priority of the Government to provide clean drinking water to the people of Palamu and take irrigational water to their fields. The water from the Sone river would be brought here through pipelines. DPR for the project would be completed by December 15 and after completing formalities, foundation for it would be laid in February," said he.
On the occasion the CM laid foundation for 55 roads and 13 bridges online whereas 25 roads and 45 bridges were inaugurated. The CM informed that DPR for other roads worth 213 crore is ready. Importantly, the CM also approved four-laning of lohardaga road for 23 kms and 55 kms on the NH-75. Besides, DPRs for several bypasses locating at lohardaga, Garhwa, Hazaribagh etc are also ready, informed the CM.
At the same time the Chief Minister sounded stern to unruly contractors. "I am not here just to decorate the CM's post. I tell DC and SP to keep an eye on such contractors who make an exhibition of their might by carrying guns. They should also refrain from sub-letting the works allotted to someone else. Samantwaad aur ataankwad nahi chaleg . The contractors are also to perform their social obligations," said the CM. He also touched upon local issues, sought help of local businessmen and said that issues relating to khas mahal land would be solved by December 15.
He used the occasion also to reiterate his Government's stand on recent CNT-SPT amendments saying that those who are opposing the provisions are not the well wishers of the tribal or any raiyat and just want these innocent people to languish forever. The Chief Minister exhorted perpetrators of violence to shun violence and join the mainstream.
Chief secretary Rajbala Verma in her speech outlined the reasons behind launching the centralised online foundation & inauguration of Rs 4,000 crore worth road projects in Daltonganj saying, "Palamu touches UP and Bihar and its two rivers Koyal and Sone are the dividers and nothing can be any suitable place than this as roads are to connect people." She also assured that the State which is lagging behind the national average on roads, would soon catch-up with the national average once connectivity is improved.
The Road Construction Department also Government organised this mega show. Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravansi, Palamu MP VD Ram, local MlAs were also present on the occasion.