Rourkela: The development authority here has become the latest flashpoint for the BJD and the BJP.
In the last two days serious allegations and counter allegations were exchanged between the two political rivals.
The Rourkela Development Authority headed by former BJD MLA Sarada Prasad Nayak.
In an attack on Nayak, the BJP state unit secretary Dhiren Senapati said: "The development authority works for the BJD and not in the interest of the city."
Senapati said: "It is really painful to see an official institution being used as party office."
The BJP leader said: "When Sarada babu was made chairman of the development authority, he had promised to build 20,000 houses. But where are those houses?"
He rued that the development authority had failed to initiate any new projects.
"The rule states that the authorities should hold a meeting every three months, but not a single one was held this year," he said.
"The authority is allocating works without tender when no budgetary meeting discussion was held in 2016-17," Senapati said. He questioned the role of the authority in carrying out the smart city projects.
Former president of Rourkela Bar Association Ramesh Bal echoed Senapati in his criticism of the development authority.
"This is really regrettable that the development authority is yet to implement the sarbakhyma yojana (amnesty scheme) when others have done it in the state."
Reacting to the allegations, Nayak said: "Unfortunately they cannot distinguish between party cadres and the general public who come to me with their genuine grievances. The elected representatives, both the local MLA and the MP, hardly stay here. So people come to me."
On the state of affairs of the development authority, he said: "Let the BJP not forget who was heading it when it incurred a loss of Rs 22 crore. We managed to bring it back from the red and today it is a healthy body."
"We have already floated a tender for projects to start at Chhend. Unfortunately, the BJP only knows how to blame us," said Nayak.
Congress leader Biren Senapati said: "This is nothing but sheer eyewash. Both are trying to cheat the residents."
