Press Note Eng Dt:19/03/2015 on Narmada Department & Transport Department.

 

• 22 of the 27 years of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited are in the BJP rule in Gujarat.
• 74627 Km long Narmada Canal is to be built. Of this 48,316 km has been remaining because of criminal neglect of the BJP government.
• Much of the important work, most challenging one, was done during the Congress rule. This includes closure of sluice gates, irrigation bypass tunnel and main dam’s work from foundation.
• Congress government had by 1995 completed 90 percent of main canal work. BJP govt has not undertaken canal work after that.
• Rs 5187 crore is needed for additional one million acre feet of water for Kutch, but nothing has been done as the BJP govt has not allocated sufficient money.
• 67 percent of the posts of Deputy Engineers are vacant.
• Narmada project land of Jhundal village in AUDA area having survey no 87 worth crores of rupees has been taken away by for promoting interests of builders.
• Youth is exploited in the name of outsourcing.
• Data operator are paid Rs 10,000 on record but paid only Rs 5,999 while Rs 4,001 is siphoned by outsourcing company.
• Every month Rs 16 lakh are siphoned from State Transport on account of outsourcing.
• 5620 routes of ST have been closed down in the last 12 years.
• Running of ST buses has been reduced by one lakh kms.
• Of 8573 ST buses now only 6652 are running.
• PF of ST employees is not deposited and they are not given ex-gratia bonus.
• Though the price of diesel is reduced, no reduction in ST fares.

          Congress MLA and national spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil lashed out against what he described as incompetence and negligence of BJP government in the state. He was participating in budget discussion in the State Assembly.

          Talking about Narmada project, he said that the criminal negligence of BJP government of Gujarat had led to a situation where no work has been done to take canal network and thus Narmada waters to farmers. Narmada waters would have turned the fate of debt ridden farmers of Gujarat and turned their accounts cash surplus.

          Gohil pointed out that 22 of the 27 years of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited are in the BJP rule in Gujarat. But, he said that much of the important work of the Narmada project, most challenging one, was done during the Congress rule. This includes closure of sluice gates of irrigation bypass tunnel and main dam’s work from foundation was done during Congress rule. He said that against all kinds of odds and objections the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi gave environmental clearance to the project.

          The Congress leaders who accomplished the task never boast of their feat. They were humble. They always gave credit to people of Gujarat. 74627 Km long Narmada Canal is to be built. Of this 48,316 km has been remaining because of criminal neglect of the BJP government. If this could be completed, Narmada water could be used by farmers instead of water going into the sea.

          People of Kutch have right over Narmada water. Rs 5187 crore is needed for additional one million acre feet of water for Kutch, but nothing has been done as the BJP govt has allocated very marginal money for it. As a result there is no administrative clearance of the work which requires provisions of at least 15 percent fund. He questioned the rational of 15 percent provision pointing out that repair and other works required very small amounts.

          67 percent of the posts of Deputy Engineers are vacant. How we can expect quality and speedy work, he asked. At a time when BJP government is at both the places, Gujarat and Delhi, Narmada project should be declared a national project and we will welcome it Gohil said.

          He alleged that Narmada land was being targeted by builders and drew the attention of the House to a case of Narmada land in AUDA area. Narmada project land of Jhundal village in AUDA area having survey no 87 worth crores of rupees has been taken away by for promoting interests of builders.

          Referring to the State Transport, he said that it was one of the best in the country, but its condition has deteriorated under the BJP rule.

          Referring to the increasing trend of outsourcing, he said that it was becoming a major source of exploitation of youth. He said that 400 IT staff working for the ST was paid Rs 10,000 each to the outsourcing company GIPL. But they are paid only Rs 5999 each. Thus Rs 4,001 per person are pocketed which amounted to Rs 16 lakh a month.

          Quoting from the record of 2014 he compared the performance of ST as it stood in 2000. 5620 routes of ST have been closed down. Running of ST buses has been reduced by one lakh kms. Of 8573 ST buses now only 6652 are running. Pointing out that number of passengers was reduced from 37.42 lakh in 2000 to 22 lakh in 2014, he wondered if all had their personal vehicles. PF of ST employees is not deposited and they are not given ex-gratia bonus. Though the price of diesel is reduced, no reduction in ST fares, Gohil said.

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