Kosal Discussion and Development Forum

Funds remain unspent amidst demand for separate Koshal state

December 17, 2009 at 10:41 pm sanjibkarmee Leave a comment

Following is a report from The Statesman:

 At a time when the students, lawyers and other intellectuals of western Orissa have stepped up their movement demanding a separate state, accusing that this portion of the state has always been neglected in terms of scanty funds for developmental works, here is a classic example how funds in crores meant for pro-poor programmes remain unspent.

It is disclosed that Sambalpur municipality has not yet spent Rs 7.5 crore allotted under integrated housing for slum development programme, a government of India project, which may get lapsed if remains unutilised.

Such a huge fund is meant for construction of houses for the urban poor of BPL category at the cost of Rs 1.20 lakh each and 613 poor people in 20 different slums can avail direct benefit if the houses are constructed. This will also be helpful in putting an end to the slum culture in this town in phase manner. But it is learnt that in spiting of floating tenders for three times no contractor has come forward to execute the work. As per provisions, any NGO or contractor fulfilling certain criteria can only be eligible to participate in the tender. “But in spite of frequent tenders no NGOs or contractor is submitting tender for the work. This gives us a major setback since we may lose the money,” said Mr Manoj Patra, the assistant engineer of the municipality.

There is also strict instruction from government to utilise the fund during the current fiscal year which is only four months ahead to be completed. In such circumstances the municipality authorities are obvious to be worried over the problem. “Non participation in the tender is really a problem before us. But not to lose the money, we will apprise the government of the genuine problem,” said Mr Nirmal Chandra Satapathy, the in-charge executive officer of Sambalpur municipality.

Meanwhile, the activists of Koshal Kranti Dal, a regional party formed exclusively for formation of a separate state comprising districts of western Orissa submitted a memorandum addressed to the Union Home Minister through the collector of Sambalpur.
“This is just the beginning of Koshal movement and no force can stop it. The agitation like that of the freedom struggle of our country and will end with a new state for us,” said Mr Upendra Mahapatra the district president of the party.

The party activists also burnt chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik in effigy and tore a map of Orissa to voice their demand.
Mr Sunil Nanda, Mr Nirmal Das, Mrs Minakshi Majhi and many others were present in today’s agitation.

It may be noted that students of Sambalpur University and members of the District Bar Association had also held demonstrations here demanding separate Koshal state over the last two days.

Entry filed under: Demand by Bar Association, Demand by political parties, Demand by Students Union, Demand of Koshal state, Region watch, Sambalpur.