Keonjhar: Congress leaders have lashed out at the government for allegedly neglecting the mineral rich district of Keonjhar.
Addressing a Bandhu Milan Utsav organised by the party, PCC general secretary Alok Mishra, PCC secretary Sangram Das, district unit president Mohan Parida, executive president Biplab Mishra and dalit cell chief Bidhyadhar Dehury said the government has adopted a step-motherly attitude towards the district, and warned that the party will take to the streets on the issue in coming days.
The meeting drew a large number of Congress workers, media persons and intellectuals. The Congress leaders raised many issues facing the district. They said the district is a suitable place for steel plants, but the state and Central governments are ignoring it. They accused the government of not cooperating with steel makers like Uttam Galva, Arcellor Mittal and Sterlite Industries, who had wanted to set up mega steel plants in the district.
Regarding the Kanpur mega irrigation project, the Congress leaders said that given the current state of affairs, the fate of the project hangs in the balance.
“The roads in mining areas are in bad shape and the severe shortage of doctors at the District Headquarters Hospital and other hospitals have hit healthcare. Poor tribals have to face a lot of problems without healthcare. Similarly, the education sector is in shambles due to the shortage of teachers and lecturers. Unscheduled power cuts have made life miserable and thousands of households are in darkness,” they said.
The Congress leaders also lambasted the government on distress paddy sales which has become a concern for farmers in the district.
PNN