Rourkela: The Centre should set up a second bridge across the Brahmani river at a place decided earlier instead of changing the site overnight, said George Tirkey, Samata Kranti Dal MLA from Biramitrapur, Monday.
The government is trying to mislead people by declaring the start of its construction at Dandiapalli without acquiring land there, he alleged. He wanted to know who was going to gain from this fresh move.
Meanwhile, several members of Mulabasi Adivasi Banchao Manch, an outfit of primitive tribes and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, staged a demonstration Monday at Vedavyas over the issue. They sat in a dharna for some time and explained how political leaders are hindering the project.
The Prime Minister had promised twice – in April 2014 and again in April 2015 – for the construction of the bridge. The agitation would be intensified if there is further delay in the construction, Tirkey warned after attending the demonstration.
The MLA further alleged that Union minister Nitin Gadkari had laid the foundation stone for the bridge and left for Delhi, saying the construction work would begin in seven days but that didn’t happen. Even as the construction has begun, according to some reports, the ground reality continues to remain hazy. On the other hand, the high voltage drama staged by the political leaders affects the progress of the project, he added.
Explaining about the confusing state of the bridge project, the MLA said the authorities acquired some land and distributed compensations among land losers. However, the project was delayed on the pretext of forest clearance. It was delayed again and the blame went to the state government. When the land losers were already given compensation, there was no ground to hold the state responsible, Tirkey pointed out.
Some political leaders have shifted the site of the construction only to serve their own interest and that of their supporters. This has been done to protect the interest of some apartment owners.
The residents of Rourkela would have to travel extra four km if the bridge is constructed near Dandiapalli, argued Tirkey and demanded a high level probe into the shifting of the project site to expose the vested interest.
Former MLA Halu Mundari, Sipriyan Kiro, Anil Ekka were among others who took part in the protest rally.
PNN
