If the BJP-led Government assumed to get away with the baggage of past not necessarily a result of its own doing before the beginning of Assembly’s business on Wednesday then they probably presumed too much as the belligerent Opposition was literally breathing down the ruling party’s neck over projects that have stretched beyond their deadline.
As Chief Minister Raghubar Das enumerated deadline as among the top-priorities of the NDA Government in Jharkhand, the Opposition shot questions regarding pending road project between Govindpur and Sahebganj stretching 361-km. The project was funded by Asian Development Bank and the opposition alleged that due to missing deadline it is facing cost escalation seeking punishement for the people accountable for the delay.
“Government’s record shows that 90 per cent of fund has been spent and just about 50 percent of the work has been accomplished. Now additional amount will be needed to complete remaining part of the project. Who will bear the burden of cost escalationIJ It is ultimately public who will bear the burden,” said Poryahat MlA, Pradeep Yadav.
Although the Government was taken aback by the allegations of the Poryahat MlA it assured that the matter will be looked into. “Department’s committee will look into the matter,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Roy.
The first session of the Assembly on Wednesday did not went in favour of the Government as the opposition also cornered Government on the issue of delegation of rights to Panchayati Raj Institutions on 29 subjects and criticised Government for not coming out with concrete assurances on the issue.
“Government was beating around the bush in response to the question. They have deliberately withheld delegation of rights so that PRIs remain weak,” added Yadav. The Government in return claimed that rights have been delegated to the PRIs.The Oppositions’ quiver of questions included various projects of public importance incidentally started during previous Government’s reign yet far from completion.