Khurda: Many voters at Khurda Assembly constituency are reluctant to believe in the tall promises of candidates contesting the 2019 polls.
According to the voters, the candidates of various political parties had, during the last several Assembly elections, made such big promises. However, nothing exemplary has been done to ensure basic facilities for the people.
The voters have claimed that many localities in the constituency still lack basic facilities including drinking water, healthcare and irrigation.
Bipin Routray of Tangi area claimed that political parties have no long term vision for all round development of Khurda. “Several hospitals in Khurda and Tangi are reeling under shortage of doctors and health staff for the last several years. People are not getting potable water. There is no irrigation facility for farmers,” he said.
Dukhishyam Jujharsingh, a farmer of Brajamohanpur, alleged that politicians have the habit of ignoring the farm sector. He claimed that the state government has failed to complete the construction of Rajua irrigation project even though 20 years have elapsed since its foundation was laid. “Rajua river water can irrigate the farmlands of hundreds of farmers in the locality. But, no step has been taken to expedite the project work. Elected representatives have failed to develop road communication in our locality,” rued Jujharsingh.
Some voters of Khurda town also rued how proper civic amenities elude them. “Khurda town does not have a proper drainage system. Many localities turn into pools during rains. The authorities have failed to install streetlights and relocate stray cattle from roads. There is no market complex for traders,” said Sukanta Kumar Panda, a resident of Khurda.
A few voters have expressed their displeasure over illegal liquor and drugs trade in the locality. They alleged that the police and Excise department officials have failed to take stern action against the illegal liquor traders and drug peddlers. “Khurda has been declared a district in 1993. But, no step has been taken to set up district-level government offices at Khurda. The District Collector and many senior officials of the district administration usually stay in Bhubaneswar,” said Kanha Samantray, a trader from Khurda.