Bhubaneswar: The State Assembly Wednesday witnessed repeated adjournments over delay in construction work of a second bridge over the Brahmani river near Rourkela.
As soon as the zero hour began, parliamentary affairs minister Bikram Keshari Arukha said work of the bridge, whose foundation stone was laid by Union transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari, is yet to start “even after months”.
The Union minister has cited issues related to forest clearance and land acquisition as reasons behind the delay in starting the construction work, Arukha said.
“However, I want to inform the house that there is no requirement of forest clearance for construction of the bridge as it is not located in any forest area. This apart, there is also no delay in land acquisition issue related to bridge construction,” he said.
State BJP leader KV Singhdeo denied Arukha’s claim and said work is delayed due to forest clearance and land acquisition-related issues.
The state government has not been cooperating in the bridge construction work and therefore, the delay, Singhdeo alleged.
Accusing the state government of misleading the house, the BJP legislature party chief asked the state government to place a ‘correct’ statement. “If the state government’s view turns out to be true we will take up the matter with the Centre. However, in the event of information provided by the government is proved false then the minister must remain prepared to face the music,” Singh Deo warned.
Countering Singh Deo, BJD MLA Sanjay Das Burma said, if the Centre is not sure of forest clearances, on what basis and why did the Union minister assure to start the bridge work within 15 days on the day he laid its foundation stone a few months back.
As the ruling BJD and Opposition BJP members debated on this, Congress members rushed to the well of the house and demanded referring the matter to the Privilege Committee.
Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra demanded formation of a special privilege committee to inquire into the facts and submit a report to the State Assembly within
15 days.
Later, the BJP too joined in the demand for the referral. Unable to run the proceedings, Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat adjourned the
house thrice.
Normalcy, however, returned after Amat said he would give a ruling on the matter by the end of Wednesday’s proceedings.
Outside the house, BJP legislature party chief KV Singhdeo extended his support to the proposal of the Leader of Opposition for formation of
a Privileges Committee.
However, later in the evening, Speaker Amat rejected the proposal for formation of the committee on the issue.
PNN
