Puri: Activists of Srikhetra Surakhya Bahini observed Wednesday as a black day to protest the state government’s alleged failure to accelerate the pace of development in the Pilgrim City.
Sporting black badges on their heads and hands, more than a hundred activists of the outfit staged silent protests near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Gandhi Ghat here to press for their various demands.
Outfit convener Swadhin Panda alleged that the state government had cheated the residents of Puri on development front. Panda blamed the state government for tardy implementation of projects under four schemes—Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA)— being implemented in the Holy City.
“Authorities concerned have failed to complete even one third of the projects being implemented under the four schemes,” Panda rued.
Highlighting the poor drainage and sanitation facilities in the city, Panda claimed that the state government had failed to solve frequent waterlogging on the Grand Road during the rains.
“The administration is dilly-dallying on the restoration work for Musa River, while the plan to supply potable water to all the residents of the Holy City has been hanging fire,” Panda alleged.
Targeting the government for its alleged failure to construct an overbridge at Siddha Mahaveer level-crossing here, outfit member Bishwanath Dash said, “Many schoolchildren and even patients have to wait at the level crossing which causes unnecessary delay. However, the district administration has turned a blind eye to the issue.” Dash also criticised the district administration and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to solve various issues of Srimandir.
“The district administration and the SJTA are yet to resolve various issues related to the introduction of queue system for devotees at the temple,” Dash added.
Among others, Puri bar association president Premanand Mohanty, secretary Bibhuti Shankar Tripathy and servitor Gopal Chandra Khuntia participated in the protest meet.
