Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s visit to Rayagada kindles hope for long pending Therubali-Gunupur railway line
Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, August 20: According to emancipated local gentries of Rayagada, political representatives raise the long standing issue of Therubali-Gunupur railway line once in a while and seem to compete with each other for self projection. A healthy competition would have witnessed a score card with a high percentage; but non-fulfilment of the public demand for this railway line since last fifty years has put the political will of all the ruling parties, be that in centre or state, a big question mark & blatant betrayal. All of them shed crocodile tears when the demand by the civil societies crop up.
The first ever visit to Odisha and Rayagada last Friday by Vaishnaw since taking over as Minister of Railways, Electronics & IT has kindled a ray of hope among Rayagada denizens. Civil societies like Lions Clubs, Walkers Clubs, Merchant associations and various other fraternities including media have felicitated the minister and raised issues of Therubali-Gunupur railway line, initiating actual work of rail division at Rayagada, miserable mobile network in all parts of the district including the district headquarters. Vaishnaw responded to all the memoranda received from the non-state institutions by saying that Modi Govt had entrusted seven departments to Odisha like railways, electronics, IT, tribal affairs, education, skill development & jal shakti by creating a history. His govt is committed to to push a comprehensive development package in eastern region of the country. He assured the public and press to accelerate the issues raised through memoranda submitted by civil society organisations.
“In spite of internal issues & agreements between Govt of Odisha and GOI, survey had already been done with allocation of finance by GOI at several points of time for implementation of the project. Though this will pave the way for economic progress of this tribal region, no work has been started. In the plea of “cost-benefit analysis”, we were put for an indefinite wait since last fifty years. We request you to put an immediate end to this impasse and implement the project at your earliest possible”, said Sri Ranjan Rath, a senior scribe of the district.
“It is really unfortunate that even Group-D examination is conducted nationwide. We request you to promulgate a policy in which this examination is held Division wise with proportionate reservation mainly to create opportunities for ST/SC and other poor youths of this tribal region, which constitute more than 70% of the total population of KBK. One mega production unit must be set up in KBK to create employment opportunities and counter regional imbalance”, said Smt Bidulata Huika, State Convenor of Odisha Adibasi Manch.
Sri Rabindra Patakhandal, State Convenor of Odisha Suchana Adhikar Manch said, “Mobile network is still inaccessible in more than 70% villages of Rayagada. In few villages, tribal children climb hills and trees to access the network. A tribe child died two days back of land slide while he was going to his hut on hills to access network. Even in district headquarters, the network is miserable. We request you to look into the matter on a priority basis.”
Vaishnaw, a combine of technocrat-corporate-administrative-political leadership, reached by Hirakhand train in 3rd ACwithout much fanfare after which he went in a road show with the party cavalcade for the darshan of local deity Maa Majhighariani. Then he interacted with a few beneficiaries of Ujjwala & PMAY central schemes. The public and press meet for this Jan Ashirwad Yatra(People’s Blessings March) were addressed by Vaishnaw in the conference hall of Sai International Hotel. Sri Siba Pattanaik, Sri Kaliram Majhi, Sri Brugu Boxipatra, Sri Golak Nayak, Sri Basanta Ulaka, Sri Shyam Das, Sri Kishore Panda, Sri Jayarama Pangi, Sri Tutu Das, Sri Bidyadhar Panda, Advocate Venkat Rao Senapati, Smt Ranjana Pandey were on the dais.
