Other States - Orissa   

Painful decision

The decision to withdraw its “Nano’ project from Singur in West Bengal by the Tatas is painful and regrettable. In spite of facing lot of resistance from some locals, the company invested more than Rs.1,500 crores for the project and is now reportedly looking for another site/State.

Now-a-days setting up an industry is a Herculean task and winding up of the project will render many people unemployed as one cannot depend upon cultivation alone to prosper.

Earlier, the Tata company decided to set up a steel plant in the Gopalpur area in Ganjam District but had to ababdon its plans in the face of severe opposition.

The need of the hour is to implement projects of big companies honestly, dedicatedly so as to make the people self-reliant. The Tatas are doing yeoman service to the nation in helping to eradicate poverty and unemployment. This is the right time to support and cooperate by all means such big companies both by the Government and people at large.

S.R.Krishna

Berhampur

The Prime Minister Gramina Sadak Yojana which was initiated during the NDA regime came in handy while reaching the flood-hit people in the State this year. Places which are severely hit by the natural calamity of highest intensity and often compared with that of 1982 and 1969 are definitely getting a little better access than previous ones. To be very practical it is possible for heavy vehicles to go a little interior because of good roads. . On earlier occasions the going was tough as roads were cement-concrete ones.

Such roads should be laid on priority basis so that help can be rendered to people staying in remote areas. Hope this minimum facility for each village is brought to Orissa State Disaster Management Agency’s basic facility criteria.

Bijay Mishra

Bhubaneswar

There are different theories doing rounds about floods, communal riots in Kandhamal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. I don’t know if floods overshadowed Kandhamal conflict or re-eruption of violence in the strife-torn district eclipse mismanagement of relief and rescue operation.

Anyway, Mr. Patnaik is walking the tight-rope this time without having option to ignore any of the two incidents. While the Centre is always ready with Article 355 baton, anger of flood-affected people might wash away all the Chief Minister’s hopes in next Assembly and general elections.

Spin-doctors were working overtime suggesting Chief Minister to direct all blames towards the Centre. Whether it is the matter inadequate paramilitary forces to rein in violence in Kandhamal or lesser Central assistance funds for the State compared to Bihar. The Centre is to be blamed at any cost.

The suggestions certainly proved effective. Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil announced Rs. 500 crore-package for the State while the Centre was contemplating sending more forces to Kandhamal.

However, same trick would not work every time. Mr. Patnaik would have to show character to address two big problems raging simultaneously. If there is continued negligence on the matter, people will finally punish him.

Siddharth Panda

Cuttack

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Painful decision

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