Bhubaneswar: Stressing that Narendra Modi government is keen to ensure speedy development of Odisha, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday hit out at the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) accusing it of creating hurdles in implementation of Central schemes in the state.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, BJP MLA Mukesh Mahaling said the Prime Minister is determined to improve Odisha’s water supply system and to provide clean drinking water to all the people of Odisha.
Stating that the Centre has given thousands of crores of financial grants and assistance for this after BJP came to power in 2014, he said 71.02 percent of houses in the state have been supplied with tap water in last ten years through “Pradhan Mantri Jal Jeevan Mission”.
During 2019-24, funds to the tune of Rs 102,17 crore have been spent and drinking water has been provided through 6075151 taps in the state, he said.
Similarly, irrigation facilities have been provided to 94722 hectares of land through the Pradhan Mantri Prashikhi Irrigation Yojana, while Rs 10,000 crore came to the state through Kampa fund for new afforestation. Three solar parks have already been approved in the state for generation of 340 MW power, while 71.13 lakh trees have been planted through Green India Mission, said Mahaling.
Voicing concern over water crisis in Odisha which was once considered a water-rich state, the BJP legislator said despite being in power for 24 years, the BJD government could not build a single dam or barrage in the state. One inch of farmland could not be irrigated.
There is a severe shortage of drinking water, while all major rivers and tributaries of the state have dried up, he claimed.
While 40 project proposals have been approved urban afforestation in the state, the Modi government has provided Rs 20.34 crore to Odish, he said.
However, the BJD government in the state has blocked ‘Modi Guarantee’ and because of this, the people of Odisha are deprived of the benefits of Central schemes, the BJP leader alleged.
Claiming that the environment of Bhubaneswar, the ‘entry point’ of the state, has become unhealthy and dangerous, Mahaling said ‘Modi Guarantee’ is the only requirement for Odisha’s bright future.
