Bhubaneswar: Criticizing the BJP and the Congress, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said the Opposition parties have no concern for the Brahmani Bridge and asked them to stop shedding crocodile tears and start acting on the issue.
Earlier in the day, the Opposition Congress and BJP members created a ruckus in the Assembly over issues related to the Gangadhar Meher lift Canal system and growing atrocities against women in the State following which the Speaker of the House adjourned the proceedings till 11.30 am.
When the House proceedings resumed, Chief Minister spoke about the canal system and said," The issue of non-allocation of funds for Gangadhar Meher Lift Canal system in Bargarh district is not a fact. In the Annual Budget of 2017-18, an amount of Rs 1.50 crore has been allocated under pre-project activities of other pipeline projects including Bijepur Lift Irrigation Project, which is one of the 58 projects."
The Government has already created a working division at Bijepur with one Executive Engineer, three Assistant Executive Engineers and six Junior Engineers with other support staff to look after this project, he said. "The estimated cost of the project is Rs 1246.56 crore. The project will provide irrigation to 25600 hectares in Kharif and 7000 hectares in Rabi in the drought affected Bijepur, Sohela and Barapali blocks of Bargarh district," the CM said.
"Unlike others we talk less but our work speaks for itself. We are the only government to adopt a manifesto and implementing the same," Patnaik added.
Replying to Patnaik’s comments, Opposition chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, “Congress has never shed crocodile tears. If this is our agenda, India would not have been an independent country. No matter what the situation is, the Congress is always ready for a discussion. BJP and BJD have the habit of shedding crocodile tears.”
Also Read: Delay In Odisha Govt Approvals Led To Tardy Progress Of 2nd Brahmani Bridge: Gadkari
BJP MLA Pradeep Purohit said, “It is BJD who sheds crocodile tears and not BJP. Forest clearance as well as the DFO is in their hands, and that is why they haven’t given the clearance and funds for the project.”
Meanwhile, the House was again adjourned till 3 pm after the Opposition resumed their protests inside the Assembly.
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