DM-Saluja Faceoff Over Fund Cut: Congress Workers Protest At Balangir Collectorate In Odisha

Balangir: Congress workers staged a demonstration at the collector’s office in Odisha’s Balangir on Wednesday accusing the district administration of slashing funds for various government schemes in Kantabanji Assembly constituency.

The protesters, led by Kantabanji MLA Santosh Singh Saluja, alleged that the district administration has arbitrarily allotted reduced funds for Turekela, Bangomunda and Muribahal blocks under the Assembly constituency.

They alleged that the collector is yet to allot the stipulated fund of Rs 1 crore each to Turekela, Bangomunda and Muribahal blocks under Biju KBK Yojana. This apart, the grant under high school transformation programme of the 5T initiative is yet to be released, sources said.

Describing Kantabanji as a migration-prone and poverty-stricken area, Saluja has said the state government should spend more funds in the constituency. However, the collector is slashing funds sanctioned under various development schemes, the Cogress leader alleged, adding that the parry will fight for justice to the area.

The protest comes six days after Saluja had a face-off with Balangir collector Chanchal Rana over the issue at the Zilla Parishad meeting. A high drama was witnessed on January 12 at the meeting when the Congress legislator lashed out at the collector accusing him of slashing funds for his constituency.