Bhubaneswar, April 8: Taking a cue from their leader Jagadish Tytler’s tirade against the state government, Congress MLAs today came down heavily on the ruling regime for awarding ports to various industrial houses without international competitive bidding. The MLAs also demanded a CBI inquiry into the issue.
On Thursday, Tytler, who is Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and in-charge of party’s Orissa affairs, had raised the issue of corruption in awarding ports to private companies. He had said that the irregularities in awarding contract could even surpass the 2G spectrum scam.
Not ready to let the opportunity go on the last day of the Budget session, Congress MLAs echoed Tytler’s charge in the House today.
“Small and minor ports have been handed over to industrial groups at throwaway prices. All these MoUs should be cancelled,” demanded Opposition leaders.
Refuting the Opposition charge, transport and commerce minister Sanjeev Sahu said there was no need for a CBI inquiry.
Initiating an adjournment motion on corruption, Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan said: “The (port) scam is to the tune of Rs 3,36,000 crore. The state government finalised 14 sites to build ports and handed over those to industrial houses without going through the process of global tender.”
To justify his claim of a Rs 3.36 lakh crore scam, Prasad said: “Each of these ports would attract an invest of Rs 800 crore and the land would be given on a 30-year lease. If an estimate is done for the 14 ports, the amount would come to Rs 3.36 lakh crore,” he said.
Making a scathing attack on the government, Prasad said: “Land for the ports was handed over to private companies for Rs 1750 per acre. Except for Gopalpur port, no other industrial houses was selected through competitive bidding.”
The ports in questions are Dhamra, Bichitrapur, Kirtania in Subernarekha mouth, Bahabalpur, Inchudi, Chandipur, Chudamani, Astaranga, Baliharchandi, Palur, Jatadhari.
“The MoUs and concessional agreement made with various companies should be immediately cancelled. We don’t have any objection for the setting up ports but Orissa should earn revenue,” he added.
Prasad also questioned the justification of handing over Dhamra port to the Dhamra Port Limited, a joint venture of Tata and L&T.
Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh and senior Congress leader Naba Das demanded a CBI inquiry into the scam.
Stating that it was a fit case for CBI probe, Singh said those who did not have the expertise to develop ports got the contracts.
Refuting allegation, BJD MLA Ananat Das said rules had been followed in issuing contract for Dhamra port.
“The move to set up a world class port was initiated by the JB Patnaik-led Congress government in 1997. All rules were followed at that time. The Naveen Patnaik government pushed the project as it would boost the state’s economy,” he added. Several other BJD MLAs, including Sanjay Dasburma, said as Tytler was in the State, Congress members were raking up the issue.
Replying to the queries, commerce and transport minister Sanjeev Sahu said: “Land has been on temporary lease basis. After 30 years, all infrastructure, including land, will be government property.”
He further said that the government had framed a port policy in 2004 and accordingly MoUs were signed for Subernarekha mouth, Chudamani and Astaranga.
“In other states, including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, MoUs were signed with industrial groups without floating tenders,” he said.
Unhappy with the minister’s reply, the Opposition Congress staged a walk out.
