New Delhi: Despite several disruptions in the Parliament owing to the three farm Bills and hike in fuel prices, the Odisha MPs raised a number of state specific demands ranging from railways to mining sector during the two phases of the Budget session.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs raised 702 starred/unstarred questions on different issues of state and national importance during the two phases of the Budget session. While 408 questions were asked in Lok Sabha, 294 were posed in Rajya Sabha.
BJD reiterated its demand of passing a Bill to grant 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies. BJD MPs raised the issue on several occasions during the session. The party also raised long-pending demand for reduction of GST on Kendu leaves. The MPs urged the Union government to procure surplus rice from the state and also submitted a memorandum in this regard.
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha passed 18 and 19 Bills respectively during the Budget session. BJD has supported all the Bills except the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Bill 2021, which enhances the power of Lieutenant Governor in Delhi. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2021, a crucial Bill from Odisha’s point of view, was also supported by the BJD. However, it urged the Union government to change some provisions that empowers the Centre to auction mines and utilise the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund. Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka demanded that the Bill be sent to the standing committee as it impinges upon the powers of the state governments.
During the session, Union government refused to revise royalty on iron, bauxite and limestone.
The MPs also raised the problems faced by the people of their constituencies. Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka and BJD MP N Bhaskar Rao reminded the Union government of problems faced by the people of Odisha due to the unavailability of mobile network.
Ulaka said in the Lok Sabha that students in Koraput and Rayagada have to climb the hills for getting the signal to complete their studies. He also said that children risked their lives as wild animals could attack them. Similarly, Bhaskar Rao said in the Rajya Sabha that 69 gram panchayats are without network in the state.
Likewise, BJD’s Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar raised the issue of poor banking system in the state and said that around 24 gram panchayats in Kalahandi district are having only one bank.
Jagatsinghpur MP Rajashree Mallick and Rajya Sabha MP Amar Patnaik urged the Union government to set up another AIIMS in Sundargarh.
BJD MPs Anubhav Mohanty and Subhash Chandra Singh and BJP MP Nitesh Ganga Deb raised concerns over non-availability of railway services in seven districts even after several decades of Independence. Mohanty in Lok Sabha urged the Centre to complete pending railway projects in the state as soon as possible.
Ganga Deb sought allocation of Rs 500 crore for Talcher Bimlagarh railway project. Congress’s Ulaka criticised the government over allocation to the state in railway budget.
Senior BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab sought centre’s intervention in resolving Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh. He said that even after 19 hearings in Mahanadi tribunal, Odisha hasn’t gained anything. BJD’s Rajya Sabha MP Prasanna Acharya urged the Union government to set up fast track courts in every district to deal with crimes against women and children. Acharya also requested Centre to stop closing down of Sambalpur railway station as it bears memories of Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to Odisha.
The BJD and BJP MPs met several Union ministers during the session and submitted memorandum in respect to issues faced by the state.