Bhubaneswar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJD government alleging that a conspiracy is being hatched by Labour Minister Sushant Singh in land allotment for the establishment of an ethanol plant in Bargarh district.
The BJP's Paikmal MLA Pradeep Purohit, in a press meet held at the party office here on Sunday, said the Labour Minister is creating obstacles in allotment of land for the project due to his vested interests.
"Minister Sushant Singh is creating hurdles in establishment of the proposed plant by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) at Baulsingha in Bargarh. Even Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is keeping mum on the issue as Singh is one of his trusted men in the party," alleged Purohit.
"We request the CM to allot the required land for the project for the development of the region in the interest of the people of Odisha," the legislator said.
Meanwhile, minister Singh refuted the allegations of the BJP and said, “It has become a tendency of the BJP to bring in baseless and false allegations; it is targeting me now as the Bijepur bypoll is on the cards.”
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"Prove the allegations and I will take retirement from politics," Singh dared Purohit.
Earlier, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had written to the CM and sought his assistance for setting up the Rs 750-crore ethanol plant in Bargarh district as part of measures to promote eco-friendly alternative fuel.
It is worth mentioning that even after elapse of almost one year, land allotment for the project is yet to be done. However, BPCL has already appointed Project Management Consultant for early commencement of developmental activities at the site.
BPCL had also requested the State government through the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL) for allocation of land in November 2016.
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