Poor roads affecting state image: Cong

Raipur, March 22, 2012

Congress legislators on Thursday said that poor condition of roads in state was affecting Chhattisgarh’s image. They also attacked the government on lacking in education and tourism sectors while speaking against provision of budgetary demands for PWD, School Education, Tourism, Culture, Religious Trust and Religion departments at Vidhan Sabha.

Congress MLA Dharmjeet Singh charged that the minister Brijmohan Agrawal had lost control over PWD officials. “About 80% roads of the state are in worst condition. The works approved 12 months back have not been started yet. The minister does not have any pretext over the delay and hence credibility of entire department is in question,” he said.

He asked the minister to stop giving advance fund to the contractors who deliberately stall road projects.

He suggested that the minister should take initiative and acquire lands in Amarkantak (Madhya Pradesh) and Gaya (Bihar) by holding talks with the respective governments considering large number of people from Chhattisgarh visiting the two places every year.

Congress legislator Ambika Markam expressed her concern over inadequate teaching staff in schools. She said the government was opening schools but not recruiting teachers in that proportion and consequently studies were affecting.

The opposition member Agni Chandrakar said there was no use of massive budget when the all departments of the government could not even do 40% works.

He said potholes appear in newly constructed roads in six months and one cannot find trace of such roads in four years.

Pointing that the roads constructed under PMGSY in rural pockets are in horrible condition, he urged the minister to include such roads under PWD.

He requested to the minister to allot adequate fund for Sirpur terming it place of religious and historical significance. “The minister only allots funds for Rajim kumbh and ignores rest other religious areas,” he said.

He suggested that the government instead of organising Sirpur mahotsav separately should merge it with Sirpur mela and to prefer local artistes to those from other states in that event.

He demanded provision of MLA rest house elsewhere from the existing location terming it inappropriate due to dust, filth, pollution and mosquito menace. He urged the minister to announce Ramaipat as tourist spot terming the area having archaeological importance.

Congress MLA Amarjeet Bhagat sought reason from the minister for not inaugurating motels despite their completion.

He indicated that foreign grants were usually being allocated for urban areas and rural pockets were ignored. He demanded sufficient allocation of foreign grants funds for remote and inaccessible areas.

The debate was also participated by BSP MLA Sourabh Singh who pointed that despite approval, the road projects in different parts of the state including his constituency do not commence in given time. “If the funds meant of road projects would not be used for the actual purpose then it would merely become poll fund,” he said.

He also sought reason from the minister pertaining to delay in tendering procedures.

On education sector, he said although teachers’ posts had been filled, many were attached to different departments.