Congress launches strike over project delay 

ROURKELA: The local Congress unit launched an indefinite strike from Thursday protesting delay in numerous infrastructure projects of the Central and the State governments in Rourkela Assembly segment.
Members of Rourkela District Congress Committee (RDCC) staged demonstration at Panposh Square demanding early execution of the projects which have been lingering for the last three to 14 years. The Congress has decided to stage stir for eight hours daily to mobilise public support. 

RDCC president Biren Senapati and former Congress MLA Pravat Mohapatra accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of cheating the people of Rourkela. They said there has been no visible progress after the PM’s official announcement to upgrade Ispat General Hospital of SAIL into Super Specialty Hospital and Medical College and four-lane project of National Highway 143, including second Brahmani bridge at Rourkela three years back. The existing weak bridge on Brahmani is at a risk of collapsing while healthcare services at IGH have deteriorated amid growing vacancies of doctors, the Congress leaders said.

The Congress also accused the BJD-led Naveen Patnaik Government of delaying  projects under the housing scheme for urban poor for years. Demanding immediate start of construction work on the proposed barrage on Koel river and Ring Road alongside it, the leaders also insisted that the CM should expedite the Wholesale Market Yard project worth `98.5 crore. Naveen had laid foundation stones for the barrage and market yard projects in 2013 and 2014 respectively.“The CM should take over the private ailing Hi-Tech MCH and upgrade Rourkela Government Hospital into an MCH for the benefit of more than 12 lakh urban and rural poor of Rourkela city, Panposh, Bonai and part of Sundargarh sub-division who lack access to advanced healthcare,” they said.

The BJP and the BJD governments should accept blame for failing to create new railway division at Rourkela and restoration of air connectivity. The outreach campus of Xavier University, Bhubaneswar at Rourkela, which was announced by Naveen three years back, still remains a dream while a solid waste management project, a mega drinking water plan worth about `89 crore and Vedvyas suspension bridge proposal are hanging fire for years, the Congress leaders said.Among others, former Rajgangpur Congress MLA Gregory Minz, OPCC secretaries Sabir Hussain and Rabi Ray, and AICC member R K Yadav were present.