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Congress threatens economic blockade

BERHAMPUR: The city unit of the Congress on Sunday threatened to hold economic blockade in protest against the alleged apathy of the State Government towards development of Berhampur.Addressing a press conference, city Congress president Sanjit Panigrahi and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) member Bikram Panda said there was a great disparity in the amount of revenue that the State Government was getting from the city and the amount of developmental funds it was getting from the State Government. "If the State Government does not promise to provide development funds on a par with the revenue it was getting from the city the Congress would take up economic blockade against the State Government," they said. They have planned to stop collection of commercial taxes and other cess imposed by the State Government and the local municipality.

As per the Congress leaders it would be their major issue for the coming elections which includes the election for the local municipality. Mr Panda said the apathy of the state government can be assessed from the fact that despite tall claims since 2004 that Berhampur municipality would be converted into a corporation, no ground work had been done yet towards it. They alleged that the Berhampur Development Authority and the local municipality were busy handing over prime land in the city to the private parties rather than using them for public good.

"One major example happens to be the handing over of the land and building of religious trust near the Berhampur railway station to a private organisation by the district administration on lease for a meagre price," said Mr Panigrahi.

According to the Congress, the city could not get a proper solid waste management system despite Central grant only due to negligence of the State Government.

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