BJP Slams Odisha Govt For Delay In Construction Of Medical Colleges

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday hit out at BJD-led State government over delay in taking up the construction of the proposed medical colleges in State.

Coming down heavily on Odisha Government, BJP State general secretary Lekhashree Samantsinghar said the construction of medical colleges in State has got delayed only because the State government failed to provide its share.

Citing the example of proposed medical college in Puri, she said that the State government is yet to provide its share of 40% cost of expenditure resulting in delay of the construction of the healthcare institute.

"The Centre has already given its share to the State for all such projects which are taken up on 60:40 ratio. The projects are getting delayed only because the State government has utterly failed to provide its 40 % share. The burning example of State's failure in giving its share is the proposed medical college in Puri,” she added.

The Central government has already dispatched Rs 576 crore in first phase for the construction of five medical colleges in Odisha. It is shocking to see how the State government is laying false claims of taking up of the projects alone? she asked.

BJD, on the other hand, countered the saffron party, saying that welfare projects are taken up on Centre- State partnership.

BJD vice president and MLA Debi Mishra said "The Centre not only allocates funds for State projects, but also it received revenue from State. The welfare projects are taken up in Centre-State partnership which is envisaged in the federal structure of the constitution. If Centre really focuses on Odisha, it should allocate more funds to the State by according special category State status.”