New Delhi: Bolangir MP Kalikesh Singh Deo (BJD) Wednesday blamed the Union government for delay in construction of highways that caused flood like situation in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
Speaking on the issue of drought during a special discussion in the Lok Sabha, the MP said, “The Union government is now constructing National Highways in the cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Not recent, for the last 20 years they have been constructing. However, it is the lack of drainage facilities on these highways which is now causing a flood like situation in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.”
Kalikesh also attacked the Centre on the Mahanadi issue calling the Union government a ‘mute spectator’. He said, “…The illegal dam built by Chhattisgarh government on Mahanadi which dries out the river in summers and when the floodgates are opened during heavy rainfall inundates parts of coastal Odisha. The Centre had not taken a single step against them and chooses to remain a mute spectator.”
Commenting on the issue of minimum support price (MSP), Kalikesh said, “When you talk of doubling farmers’ income, when you talk of giving 50 per cent profits to the farmers of India, it is for the farmers of the whole of India. Why leave Eastern India out of it; why leave the states of Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh? These are the states which will be affected.”
The BJD MP also took a dig at the delay in releasing Central share for crop insurance. He said, “Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana has a fund sharing of 60 per cent by the Centre and 40 per cent by the state, yet it is called Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. We have no objection. Call it what you like but out of the `2,340 crore budget for irrigation in Odisha, a magre `47 crore has been released so far. We are already three or four months into the budget year.”
The BJD MP also tried to corner the Centre for alleged lack of assistance to Odisha for tackling flood and drought situations.
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