Jharkhand on Tuesday celebrated its 17th Statehood day with Chief Minister Raghubar Das seeking love and support of each and everyone rising above 'politics of hatred' to groom the young State and Union Minister for Road Transport and Shipping Nitin Gadkari promising the Centre's help for developing inland waterways in order to minimise the logistic cost for the industrial growth.
Incidentally, when the Chief Minister was making his fervent appeal, the AJSU Party, alliance partner in his Government, was away from the gala function at the Morhabadi ground celebrating a separate programme and the JMM, the main Opposition, was making an appeal to the people to protest the Government move to amend the tenancy laws. Senior Minister in the Das Cabinet, Saryu Roy, also chose not to attend the function, inaugurated by Governor Draupadi Murmu.
Birsa Munda Football Stadium on the occasion, Gadkari underlined the possibility of developing inland waterways in Jharkhand in the line of Ganga and other rivers taking place in other parts of the country.
"We are working in a direction to maintain three metres deep draft in Ganga throughout the year so that waterway navigation can continue. Barrages and rubbers dams would be built and we are also altering with Farraka barrage's gate design for the purpose. Over 200 lakh tonnes of materials would be transported through Ganga waterways by 2018. Similar things would be done in Jharkhand as well and a DPR for developing Subarnarekha into inland waterway would be prepared next year besides other 36-37 rivers," said the Union Minister.
He said that promoting the much cheaper mode of transportation that would bring down logistic costs from 18 per cent to 12 per cent and below would also set the State as competitive export hub. "Jharkhand has rich haul of mineral resources which can be transported at cheaper rate. Inland waterways would flourish industries and bring in investment here."
Gadkari also added that the Ganga waterways would bring Sahibgunj to fore and develop it into a major industrial hub that would link the State from West Bengal, North-East and even some eastern neighboring countries. He, on the occasion, also talked about foundation laying of a bridge over Ganga at Sahibgunj where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to remain present.
Talking about National Highways, the Minister said that from 2661 kms long presence in Jharkhand the length of NH has reached 5,390. "Rs 10000 crore of road projects are also lined up for the State. I also on the occasion approve 25 driver training centres to the State to be built in rural pockets to help in employment generation. There is shortage of 22 lakh drivers in the country," he said.
Meanwhile, CM Raghubar Das outlined some of the reasons why Jharkhand lagged behind on the development index.
"What I believe that the State has all the potentials like human and mineral resources to grow but honesty has not been there. We lack in keeping the State interest above party politics. We should learn from the mistakes. We all have to work together and not come in the way of each other. I appeal to everyone to work in tandem for the wellbeing of the State. Samar chhor, samrasta ki raah chalen (let's move with harmony leaving behind bitter fight)," said the CM.
The CM, on the occasion, also hinted towards obstacles being presented before the Government, especially for the proposed amendments in the CNT and SPT Acts and formulation of domicile policy. "There are some who are trying to put me in the dock. But I have not done anything wrong. Whatever I have done is in the right direction and in the interest of the State," said the CM counting on the steps such as Yojna Banao Abhiyan, dova construction, schools and rural electrification taken up.
Amid all this, cultural presentations in the form of Manbhoom Chhau dance, Paiyka dance and Samay dance from Goa made the extravaganza cheerful for above 20,000 spectators coming from all across the State.
Governor Droupadi Murmu, Union Ministers Jayant Sinha and Sudarshan Bhagat, Ministers in the State Government, MPs and MlAs along with top Government officials witnessed the programme attended by over 20,000 people coming from across the State.