Politics is now active in Odisha after the 5T chairman VK Pandian’s remark that some people have turned blind and are not able to see the transformation taking place under the 5T initiative in the state. Exposing tall claims of development, Odisha Governor Raghubar Das on Tuesday shot off a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik regarding several grievances of people which he came across during his recent visit to Angul and Dhenkanal.
During his visit to Joranda Old Age Home, Odisha Governor found that the institution was having issues pertaining to land settlement and other amenities.
Similarly, the people of Kandhaberini village in Angul district apprised the Governor of the issue of air and water pollution due to mining activities. Apart from this the ground water level is depleting considerably due to the mining activities. The regular meeting of RPDAC is not being held for the last two years for which genuine issues of people have not been addressed.
The Odisha Governor has also highlighted in his letter that the people have also expressed concern over lack of action by forest department to check/ prevent elephant menace which is resulting in severe damage to agricultural fields.
“Be it issue of poor people, tribals or farmers, Odisha Governor has seen the ground reality and pointed out things. The development picture of Odisha is grim and dropout of Matric students is highest in the country. Union Minister education minister in Parliament yesterday has presented the dropout rate in Class 10 was 49.9 percent in Odisha while the national average rate is 20 per cent,” said Mohan Majhi, Opposition Chief Whip.
Majhi further said only people of the state will tell who is blind. “People have understood that they are being fooled only to create vote bank. They will give befitting reply in coming days,” Majhi added.
Senior Congress leader, Jaydev Jena said, “The Odisha Governor after his visit found that there has been no development in Angul and Dhenkanal. While BJD wants to rule by making and thinking that everybody is blind, BJP wants to win 15 MP seats. People will give right reply to BJD and BJP.” Jena further that Governor has given an example and it has exposed the claims of Odisha Government.
Meanwhile, the BJD leaders or the Odisha government officials could not be contacted over the allegations.