The war of words between State Urban Development Minister CP Singh and BJP Rajya Sabha member Mahesh Poddar escalated on Thursday with Minister stating that the decision for constructing a market and parking area at the Bakri Bazar, the only open ground in Capital’s busy Upper Bazaar locality was not taken at his level, but it was Ranchi Municipal Corporation’s idea. However, Poddar the Rajya Sabha member claimed that Singh as Urban Development minister and lawmaker from Ranchi has the duty of knowing the construction work being carried out by Civic bodies in the area.
Days after, Poddar wrote an open letter protesting the Ranchi Municipal Corporation’s (RMC) decision to construct a market complex at Bakri Bazar apart from highlighting the poor condition of sewerage and drainage system asking Singh to take effective steps for improving the drainage system, the minister said, “Like other Civic bodies, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) too is an autonomous body with the organisation having its separate budgetary allocation. Most of the decisions taken by the RMC are based on its standing committee recommendations. I don’t know what RMC has proposed and who floated the idea for construction of market complex in Bakri Bazar locality.”
The Minister claimed that he had come to know about the construction of market complex through newspapers. Singh also said that the Rajya Sabha member should have raised the issue at party forum and not at media.
However, Poddar said that when he came to know about the proposal for construction of market complex he had written several letters to Municipal Commissioner, Urban Development Secretary and Chief Secretary and even to minister staging his protest, but there was no positive response. “With shrinking space in State Capital, there is no open ground for children to play. If the Municipal body construct the market complex in said area not only Ranchi will lost an open space but it will also affect the depleting water table in the area.” Poddar also cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi message where he too had stressed on importance of playgrounds for children.
Poddar also highlighted the poor condition of sewerage and drainage system in State Capital especially the Harmu River. Poddar said, “Crores of rupees have been spent in the project to restore and rejuvenate the dying Harmu river, but the condition of river and not improved but has deteriorated.”
The beautification work of this age old river involving a whopping cost of Rs 85.43 crore, covering approximately 10.4 km area started in 2015 and the project work was carried out by Jharkhand Urban Infrastructure Development Company Limited (JUIDCO Ltd) which is a part of Urban Development Department.
The Minister said, “On the issue of beautification work of Harmu river, he had constituted a three member committee to find out the discrepancies in the project work.” However, the Rajya Sabha member claimed that if the minister had constituted any committee he should have informed me when I raised the issue.
Both Singh and Poddar are senior BJP members. Singh, a five times MLA from Ranchi had served as minister in all BJP Government in State. He was also speaker of Jharkhand Assembly from 2010-2013. Podda, before being appointed as Rajya Sabha member was holding State BJP treasurer post.