BJP to oppose CM Naveen Patnaik's Jharsuguda visit

Jharsuguda: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to oppose Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's scheduled visit to Jharsuguda on January 24. At a presser held at Brajarajnagar yesterday, BJP MLA Radharani Panda informed that Patnaik is scheduled to lay foundation stone for a cancer hospital in Jharsuguda while the matter is already sub-judice in Orissa High Court.

Panda further stated that Orissa High Court in an order dated August 14, 2018 had issued a stay on all construction work for the proposed project for six months.

"Despite High Court's order, the district Collector has invited CM Naveen Patnaik to lay foundation stone for the cancer hospital. We came to know about such developments from various news reports," said Panda.

Panda further alleged instead of using its own resources, the State government is executing the project through District Mineral Foundation Fund (DMF).

Jharsuguda Collector, Bibhuti Bhusan Patnaik on the other hand admitted that earlier a writ petition was filed in Orissa High Court and the court had directed health and family welfare department secretary to dispose the matter within six months. The court had also stated that no construction work can be taken up till disposal of the matter.

"There is no problem in going ahead with the cancer hospital project as the health department has disposed the matter last month," said Patnaik.