With resentment brewing among the steel city residents, BJP's Rourkela MLA Dilip Ray has shown displeasure over delay in the projects saying that despite four years have elapsed since the Prime Minister had made the announcements; the projects are yet to see the light of the day.
"We are yet to see any headway in both the projects even after repeated reminders. This issue has actually snowballed into a big disappointment in the minds of Rourkela citizens who think that they are being intentionally neglected," Ray said.
However, his party MP and Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said that the issue is being raked up by some politicians for their personal benefit.
"In case of IGH issue, modernization and instrumentation work is already underway and a budget of Rs 10 crore has been allocated for that. As far as Brahmani Bridge is concerned, an agreement has already been signed and date fixation process is underway. Despite knowing all this, some people are intentionally trying to rake up this issue to take political mileage and personal credit for this," Oram said.
Meanwhile, the BJD has criticized the BJP for neglecting the interests of Odisha. "The BJP-led Centre is not at all interested in developing the State and the inordinate delay in construction of Brahmani Bridge and super specialty tag for IGH clearly shows that," said BJD District President (Rourkela) Anand Chandra Mohanty.
Meanwhile, to protest the Centre's negligence on the matter, Lead Rourkela, a local outfit has planned to stage agitation in a unique way. Members of the outfit have sent pots to the PM containing water from Brahmani River and soil from IGH.
It is pertinent to note that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised completion of the Brahmani Bridge and super speciality tag for IGH in his pre-election manifesto during his visit to Rourkela on April 5, 2014 and a year later in April 2015.
New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: In reply to the letter of Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari which stated that delay in forest clearance was the reason for non-commencement of construction of second bridge over Brahmani River, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said no such clearance is necessary for the construction as the proposed site is non-forest in nature.
"I understand that no forest clearance is necessary for construction of the said bridge as the proposed site is non-forest in nature. This has been confirmed in the letter of State Forest authorities," wrote Patnaik in reply to Gadkari.
"The Project Director of NHAI at Rourkela has also stated that the said land where 2nd bridge over Brahmani has to be constructed is non-forest," he added.
Patnaik stated there is no impediment for the NHAI to start the construction work even tomorrow and assured Gadkari that the State government will extend all support.
Moreover, NHAI Project Director of Project Implementation Unit, Rourkela, P Madhu in a letter to Bonai DFO had stated, "The status of land on which the bridge is proposed to be constructed over river Brahmani near Vedvyas (Rourkela) is non-forest."
Copies of the letter had also been forwarded to NHAI Bhubaneswar Regional Office and to Rourkela DFO, the letter stated.
Also Read: Delay in Odisha govt approvals led to tardy progress of 2nd Brahmani bridge: Gadkari
Earlier in the day, Odisha Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh had also informed the State Assembly that forest clearance is not required for construction of bridge over river Brahmani in Rourkela.
“There is no forest near the proposed bridge site. Rourkela DFO has already apprised his higher authorities on the matter. Moreover, no land acquisition is required for construction of a bridge over Brahmani River. I request BJP not to mislead the people and should take steps to expedite the work,” Arukh said.
Gadkari in a letter to Patnaik had stated that delay in statutory approvals from Odisha Government including forest clearance and land acquisition has led to non-commencement of project on Birmitrapur-Barkote section of NH-143.
“I was surprised and pained to receive your letter and media reports suggesting the delay on part of NHAI. I may like to clarify that all these projects are delayed for want of forest clearance and land issues,” the letter read.
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Gadkari in his letter assured to begin the work within seven days of necessary approvals.
Recalling his previous meeting with CM Naveen in Delhi, Gadkari reminded Patnaik that he had raised the issues of forest clearance and land acquisition and the CM had assured to resolve all pending issues at the earliest. However, four such projects are waiting for necessary approvals from Odisha government, the letter read.
The Union Minister further stated that the Odisha government should appreciate his stand as he rejected its proposal for a new two-lane Brahmani bridge and approved six-lane instead in view of future growth in traffic and socio economic importance of the bridge.
He stated that his ministry has been proactively taking up development of national highways in Odisha and work on 3,121 kms of road with an investment of Rs 22,011 crore (approx) is in progress in State.
In a letter to Patnaik, Gadkari said "I was surprised and pained to receive your letter and media reports suggesting the delay on part of NHAI. I may like to clarify that all these projects are delayed for want of forest clearance and land issues.”
He promised to begin the work within seven days of necessary approvals.
Recalling the previous meeting with him in Delhi, Gadkari reminded Patnaik that he had raised the issues of forest clearance and land acquisition and the CM had assured to resolve all pending issues at the earliest. However, four such projects are waiting for necessary approvals from Odisha government, the letter read.
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"I raised the issue regarding inordinate delay from the Forest Department , Government of Odisha in granting approvals and also delay in land acquisition, due to which major projects of about 500 km length with investment of about Rs 5000 crore were not getting started," he said though his letter.
The Union Minister further stated that the Odisha government should appreciate his stand as he rejected its proposal for a new two lane Brahmani bridge and approved six lane instead in view of future growth in traffic and socio economic importance of the bridge.
He stated that his ministry has been proactively taking up development of NH in Odisha and already projects of 3121 km with approximately an investment of Rs 22,011 crore has been on in the State.
In reply to the letter of Gadkari, Odisha Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh today informed the State Assembly that forest clearance is not required for the construction of bridge over river Brahmani in Rourkela.
“There is no forest near the proposed bridge site. Rourkela DFO has already apprised his higher authorities on the matter. Moreover, no land acquisition is required for construction of a bridge over Brahamni river. I request to BJP not to mislead the people and expedite the work,” Arukh said.
BJP legislature party chief KV Singhdeo came down on the ruling party for misleading the House. “I support the proposal of Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra for formation of Privileges Committee, which could clear the government motive over the issue. Minister Arukh could have clarified the forest clearance matter much before the Naveen-Gadkari meeting in Delhi. The ruling party is trying to divert attention from the main issue,” Singhdeo said.
Earlier in the day, the Opposition Congress and BJP members created a ruckus in the Assembly over issues related to the Gangadhar Meher lift Canal system and growing atrocities against women in the State following which the Speaker of the House adjourned the proceedings till 11.30 am.
When the House proceedings resumed, Chief Minister spoke about the canal system and said," The issue of non-allocation of funds for Gangadhar Meher Lift Canal system in Bargarh district is not a fact. In the Annual Budget of 2017-18, an amount of Rs 1.50 crore has been allocated under pre-project activities of other pipeline projects including Bijepur Lift Irrigation Project, which is one of the 58 projects."
The Government has already created a working division at Bijepur with one Executive Engineer, three Assistant Executive Engineers and six Junior Engineers with other support staff to look after this project, he said. "The estimated cost of the project is Rs 1246.56 crore. The project will provide irrigation to 25600 hectares in Kharif and 7000 hectares in Rabi in the drought affected Bijepur, Sohela and Barapali blocks of Bargarh district," the CM said.
"Unlike others we talk less but our work speaks for itself. We are the only government to adopt a manifesto and implementing the same," Patnaik added.
Replying to Patnaik’s comments, Opposition chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, “Congress has never shed crocodile tears. If this is our agenda, India would not have been an independent country. No matter what the situation is, the Congress is always ready for a discussion. BJP and BJD have the habit of shedding crocodile tears.”
Also Read: Delay In Odisha Govt Approvals Led To Tardy Progress Of 2nd Brahmani Bridge: Gadkari
BJP MLA Pradeep Purohit said, “It is BJD who sheds crocodile tears and not BJP. Forest clearance as well as the DFO is in their hands, and that is why they haven’t given the clearance and funds for the project.”
Meanwhile, the House was again adjourned till 3 pm after the Opposition resumed their protests inside the Assembly.
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In response to a letter of chief minister Naveen Patnaik, the union minister wrote to Odisha government stating ‘Tender for the project has already been floated and last date of submission of bids is June 12, 2017. I am sure we will be able to finish all necessary legal process of award within June and lay foundation by end of June, 2017".
The minister also assured to convert the bridge from two-lane to six-lane as per the request of local MP and Union Minister Jual Oram, Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Rourkela MLA Dilip Ray. “They requested that earlier 2-lane project was not sufficient keeping in view growth of traffic in that area and socio-economic importance of the road. Therefore, accepting their intervention, I have directed my ministry to enlarge the scale of project and the bridge has been converted to 6-lane along with 4-lane road upto Birmitrapur", Gadkari mentioned in the letter.
Considering the seriousness of the matter, he split the entire project into two parts: 6-lane bridge on river Brahmani including 4-lane road project with a length of 29.10 km from Birmitrapur to Brahmani bypass and another 4-lane project from Brahmani bypass to Rajamunda.
"A budgetary provision of Rs 294.82 Crores has been granted towards the project by the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Steel. In a much-awaited development, the Ministry of Steel has transferred Rs 105.75 Crore for the project of conversion of IGH to a Super-speciality Hospital and PG Medical Education to SAIL and an amount of Rs 98, 27,46,631 (33% of the project cost) has been transferred by RSP to M/S (National Buildings Construction Corporation) NBCC for the execution of the project," wrote Ray in a Facebook post.
Ray further stated that regarding the issue of Brahmani Bridge, though the work continues to progress at a snail’s pace, the Prime Minister’s office has committed that the execution of the project will be completed by the financial year 2020-21 and the measures to expedite its execution will be taken at the earliest in a mission mode.
The thankful gesture of Ray has brought a new twist to the political ambience in Sundergarh ahead of the second phase polls on April 18.
Odisha BJP vice president Samir Mohanty said, "Union Minister Jual Oram had written to PM Modi and even Dilip Ray was keen on getting the projects done. It is for this reason, that Ray had thanked PM."
Earlier, Ray had expressed displeasure over inordinate delay in execution of both the projects. He had also written letter to PM modi about his promise to complete the second bridge over Brahmani river.
Modi during his pre-election speech at Rourkela in 2014 and during his visit on April 1, 2015 after winning the elections had raked up both the issue.
Ray had resigned from the primary membership of BJP in November last year.
Though some started assuming that the bridge had got damaged, NHAI Project Director Sourav Chaurasia clarified that there is no need to panic as the bridge is being cleaned and the debris has nothing to do with the condition of the bridge.
Speaking to OTV, Chaurasia said, "Debris had piled up on the corner of the bridge due to which we have to take up cleaning work of the bridge. The dust that is seen falling from the bridge (in the viral video) is from the drainage spouts on the bridge, that carries rainwater down from a platform, which had got chocked."
"There is no issue in the bridge. We are waiting for the new bridge as we have no other option to divert the traffic. We have been provided with the funds (for maintenance of the bridge) but unable to take up the work as there is no diversion option, which I can get after completing one side of the new bridge," said Chaurasia.
He further said, "I have committed to complete the work (one side of the new bridge) by June. Once it is completed, the traffic will be diverted for at least 15 days and within that period, we will complete the maintenance work of the bridge (old one)."
NHAI will ensure the residents of Rourkela will not face any problem due to the bridge, added Chaurasia.