Politics heats up in Cuttack over Petanala renovation project as 'credit war' intensifies

The Petanala renovation work, which was among the top agendas of BJP, BJD and Congress during their election campaign, now hangs in balance after the work stopped midway. While the residents of CDA are fed up over the fake promises made by the political parties for the Petanala project, mudslinging between BJP, BJD and Congress has heated up the politics again in Cuttack City. 

Launching a scathing attack on the BJP government, BJD Rajya Sabha MP Debashish Samantaray alleged that the work has stopped midway as the government is not releasing the sanctioned fund for the renovation work.

“Many people did politics over Petanala. Now Mohan Majhi’s government is in the State. Senior BJP leader Samir Dey’s house is there but he is mum,” alleged Samantaray.

Targeting the then Congress MLA Mohammed Moquim, Samantaray said the Congress leader stepped into the nullah as part a political stunt. 

“The then Congress MLA Mohammed Moquim had stepped into the Petanal demanding the renovation work. Now his daughter, who is the present MLA from Barabati-Cuttack constituency, is claiming that his father has done it.  Even Mayor Subash Singh went to lay its foundation stone,” Samantaray added.

Replying to Samantaray’s jibe Moquim said, “I don’t want to comment anything about Debashish Babu. The previous BJD government hatched a conspiracy to stop the project. With BJP in the State and Congress in Cuttack, the renovation work will be completed soon.”

“They (BJD) have not submitted the proposal. If it has been done, then there must be an allocation for the project in the budget. The BJD leaders should write to the government without doing any politics. I will definitely help them with it,” assured BJP leader and former minister Samir Dey.

Meanwhile, the locals have demanded early resumption of the renovation work without any politics over the project.

“Petanala was one of the dream projects of the CDA area. However, the renovation work has stopped suddenly. From CDA sector-6 to 10, the sewerages are overflowing. I request the present government to expedite the work,” said Akshay Mohanty, a local resident.