The Odisha unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) over rolling out of ‘Sujal-Drink From Tap Mission’ in the pilgrim city of Puri.
Addressing a presser here today, BJP general secretary Golak Mohapatra alleged that the State government is telling lies about the scheme which is touted to be the first in an Indian city to ensure round-the-clock drinking water supply.
“On October 13, 2020, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had launched a scheme in Puri promising safe drinking water from tap to every household. Again the CM launched 'Sujal-Drink From Tap Mission’ in Puri yesterday. Whether both the schemes are same or different,” questioned Mohapatra.
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“In the land of Lord Jagannath, the Odisha government is misleading the people by spreading lies,” he added.
The BJP leader further alleged that the Centre is allocating crores of rupees to Odisha under the Jal Jeevan Mission, but the funds are lying unused.
Responding to the allegations, the BJD termed the criticism of the Sujal Yojana of Puri as ‘a case of sour grapes’ and added that the scheme is India's first Drink-from-Tap programme which has transformed Puri and placed it on the world map alongside Los Angeles and Singapore.
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty accused Mohapatra of giving false, baseless and concocted statements and playing cheap politics over ‘such a historic project for Puri's transformation.’