Suspension bridge undertaking over Brahmani river, a sufferer of Centre-state tussle

By Express News Service

ROURKELA: A suspension bridge undertaking over Brahmani river to attach the Vedvyas tourism web site with Harapoka Ghat at Panposh in Rourkela metropolis sanctioned eight years again, has fallen prey to the tussle between Centre and state authorities.

The funds allotted by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the undertaking was reportedly diverted after the 2019 elections resulting from delay in its execution. Sources stated the then Union Tribal Affairs Minister and incumbent Sundargarh MP Jual Oram in 2014-15 had sanctioned round Rs 10 crore for the suspension bridge.

Another tranche of Rs 5.80 crore was sanctioned from the particular central help beneath the tribal sub-plan for few improvement initiatives at Rourkela metropolis. The executing company, Integrated Tribal Development Agency, Panposh throughout its project-level committee assembly in 2016 had accredited the bridge proposal estimated at round Rs 13 crore.

The district administration had sought approval of the ST/SC Development division to permit diversion of Rs 3 crore from the tranche of Rs 5.80 crore, however the latter refused reportedly citing the ministry’s monetary help must be spent on backward areas to learn tribals.

On June 28, 2016, the then Rourkela MLA Dilip Ray in a letter had sought CM Naveen Patnaik’s intervention to take away the hurdles within the undertaking. Ray had stated the bridge would join ward nos 1 and a pair of of Rourkela Municipal Corporation on the jap aspect of the river with Vedvyas beneath Jhartarang gram panchayat of Lathikata block on the western aspect and would additionally guarantee cost-effective transportation of agriculture and horticulture produce from the tribal blocks of Lathikata and Kuanrmunda. The former MLA had stated town’s inhabitants would additionally get quick access to Vedvyas temple advanced, Vedvyas market and the crematorium via the bridge.

Again in 2018 the PLC had accredited the proposal, however the undertaking couldn’t be applied in absence of approval from the state authorities and the ministry’s funds have been diverted to different areas after 2019, stated Odisha unit BJP spokesperson Dhiren Senapati.

Vedvyas temple web site and the crematorium is thronged by vacationers and guests all year long and lakhs of individuals go to in the course of the shrine for Shravan Mela and Maha Shivaratri competition. A bamboo momentary bridge arrange between the Vedvyas temple and Harapoka Ghat has been eliminated by town administration because of which guests are pressured to journey an additional 4-5 km as a substitute of 500 metre to Vedvyas from Panposh.

Sundargarh collector Parag Harshad Gavali stated he has heard concerning the proposal, however is but to verify particulars with the ITDA. He stated the administration would think about the suspension bridge proposal based mostly on the need, usefulness and monetary feasibility.

ROURKELA: A suspension bridge undertaking over Brahmani river to attach the Vedvyas tourism web site with Harapoka Ghat at Panposh in Rourkela metropolis sanctioned eight years again, has fallen prey to the tussle between Centre and state authorities.

The funds allotted by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the undertaking was reportedly diverted after the 2019 elections resulting from delay in its execution. Sources stated the then Union Tribal Affairs Minister and incumbent Sundargarh MP Jual Oram in 2014-15 had sanctioned round Rs 10 crore for the suspension bridge.

Another tranche of Rs 5.80 crore was sanctioned from the particular central help beneath the tribal sub-plan for few improvement initiatives at Rourkela metropolis. The executing company, Integrated Tribal Development Agency, Panposh throughout its project-level committee assembly in 2016 had accredited the bridge proposal estimated at round Rs 13 crore.

The district administration had sought approval of the ST/SC Development division to permit diversion of Rs 3 crore from the tranche of Rs 5.80 crore, however the latter refused reportedly citing the ministry’s monetary help must be spent on backward areas to learn tribals.

On June 28, 2016, the then Rourkela MLA Dilip Ray in a letter had sought CM Naveen Patnaik’s intervention to take away the hurdles within the undertaking. Ray had stated the bridge would join ward nos 1 and a pair of of Rourkela Municipal Corporation on the jap aspect of the river with Vedvyas beneath Jhartarang gram panchayat of Lathikata block on the western aspect and would additionally guarantee cost-effective transportation of agriculture and horticulture produce from the tribal blocks of Lathikata and Kuanrmunda. The former MLA had stated town’s inhabitants would additionally get quick access to Vedvyas temple advanced, Vedvyas market and the crematorium via the bridge.

Again in 2018 the PLC had accredited the proposal, however the undertaking couldn’t be applied in absence of approval from the state authorities and the ministry’s funds have been diverted to different areas after 2019, stated Odisha unit BJP spokesperson Dhiren Senapati.

Vedvyas temple web site and the crematorium is thronged by vacationers and guests all year long and lakhs of individuals go to in the course of the shrine for Shravan Mela and Maha Shivaratri competition. A bamboo momentary bridge arrange between the Vedvyas temple and Harapoka Ghat has been eliminated by town administration because of which guests are pressured to journey an additional 4-5 km as a substitute of 500 metre to Vedvyas from Panposh.

Sundargarh collector Parag Harshad Gavali stated he has heard concerning the proposal, however is but to verify particulars with the ITDA. He stated the administration would think about the suspension bridge proposal based mostly on the need, usefulness and monetary feasibility.