In the past five months, nearly 100 persons have died in road accidents but no visible steps have been taken to check such accidents. What’s your department doing?

We are worried about the increasing number of road accidents. There are many factors responsible for this trend. Improved road engineering and smoothness of roads coupled with the callousness of drivers have contributed to the high number of road accidents. One cannot blame the bus drivers entirely. Everyone is responsible for it, whether he is a commuter or a motorcyclist. We need to have co-operation from all sides. We have introduced a toll-free number to keep a tab on erring motorists. If a passenger is suspicious of any driver being drunk while driving, he can call the number. We will immediately locate the bus and remove the driver. Passengers will be requested to lodge a complaint in the nearby police station. 

A bus carrying opera artistes met with an accident in Bargarh in April. What did your inquiry report say?

The accident took place because of the callousness of the driver. When one is driving a vehicle, he should take notice of the surroundings. Take the latest example of the bus accident at Bhuban in Dhenkanal. Six persons were electrocuted because the driver had taken a diversion from the original route from the national highway to avoid a traffic jam. One has to apply his presence of mind. No one can teach that.

We had three major road accidents — one in Baragarh, another at Athanallick and the last one at Bhuban in Dhenkanal. In all these cases, you are pointing out that drivers were at fault. But what steps you have taken so far to create awareness among the drivers on safe driving? 

We are in the process of launching an awareness drive for drivers. We will screen films on road safety at bus stands and sensitise drivers. We will also tell them how to negotiate, while taking a vehicle on a narrow road and will be focusing on the safety of tourist buses. Since the drivers of the tourist buses are not aware of the road engineering of the state, they are prone to commit errors.

The state government has a driving training school at Chhatia near Cuttack. Have you ever assessed whether those who are passing out from the institution are getting jobs?

I think they have been engaged in different institutions. But, we have not yet made any assessment. Earlier, we had a proposal that during the renewal of licence, we would give them a refresher course and conduct another test. But, since there was no specific law to support it, it was challenged in the court of law and later the court struck it down. Now, we are considering a new law so that this move will not be challenged in the court any more.

One of the major reasons for the accident is that though buses and trucks are not fit to get certificate to ply on roads, the owners manage to manipulate the transport officials and obtain fitness certificates...

Examining the fitness of a vehicle manually is not possible on a single day. Consequently, we are planning to mechanise the entire process. We will set up an automated training fitness centre in Cuttack on a pilot basis. Once a vehicle comes there for a check up, it will be checked through the automatic process. There will be no scope for manipulation. Once this pilot project is successful, it will be replicated in other districts.

What is the department doing to avoid the rising number of accidents involving school buses?

We have strictly advised the school authorities to paint their buses in yellow colour and boldly write the school names both on the rear and front sides. Very soon, all school buses will have to install speed governors. A school bus can run at a maximum speed of 60kmph. In case it carries girl students, a lady staff member will have to accompany the students. The school authorities have been asked to be careful while appointing drivers and do a proper background check.

Vans and autorickshaws are carrying children beyond their capacity but no steps are being taken by the department to stop this practice…

The law does not permit vans and autorickshaws to carry school students. I have also noticed how students are commuting to schools in overloaded vans and autos. We have already raised the issue with the school authorities. Only law cannot stop this practice. The parents should also take care and not send their kids in such vans. If any unfortunate incident happens, they will put the blame on the government. My sincere appeal to the parents is to avoid vans and auto rickshaws.

It is public perception that anybody can get a driving licence if he is able to grease the palms of transport officials...

It is difficult now. At the time of issuing learning licence, we are liberal. We give them the learning licence after putting some general questions on road safety and driving. But at the time of issuing the final licence, we physically verify the fitness of the driver and also take a rigorous driving test. 

You are emerging as the tribal face of the Naveen Patnaik government. But we have noticed that there is no visible change in the lives of the tribal population. Pregnant women are dying on roads without medical facilities. Even Daana Majhi in Kalahandi had to carry his wife’s body on his shoulders due to non-availability of ambulance...

The Daana Majhi case is an unfortunate incident. According to the report, Daana had left the hospital without reporting to the authorities. We have Maa Ghar (transit homes) to treat pregnant women. They can have safe delivery there. Our government has taken up a number of initiatives for the overall development of the tribal people. Tribals are simple and prefer to maintain their own identity. They live on top of the hills and in many occasions are against leaving the nearby stream where they have been living for generations. Sometimes, the administration finds it hard to reach them because of the lack of roads.

Pradeep Majhi, one of the emerging tribal faces of Odisha and a senior Congress leader had alleged that the BJD government failed to take up the cause of the tribal population...

I don’t want to enter into a verbal duel with Majhi. But, during the Congress regime, the tribal people were subjected to more oppression and were deprived of development. They used the tribal people as a vote bank by giving them a cow, goat or liquor. They wanted to keep them underdeveloped. At present, the Congress is worried since they have noticed that the tribals and Dalits are with the Naveen Patnaik government because of his pro-tribal and pro-Dalit policy. 

With Congress losing ground, the BJP is trying hard to make inroads into the tribal belts. Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram is making frequent remarks on the state government and trying to expose its failures…

They will not be successful. The UPA government had failed to bring any development for the tribal population. The NDA government is also pursuing the same agenda. They had curtailed the funds meant for the overall development of tribal people under various schemes. When Oram was chosen in the Modi ministry, I had great hopes on him. But it’s unfortunate that he is not taking steps for the welfare of the tribal people. For Odisha, it’s the most shameful thing that they have a tribal welfare minister and he is not doing anything for the tribals of the state.

Because of the underdevelopment, the Maoists are spreading their wings in the tribal areas... 

The tribal population is no more supporting the Maoists. The activities of the Maoists have gradually reduced in the state. The tribals want development and the Naveen Patnaik government is committed to it.

You are taking the lead in the Polavaram agitation. But don’t you think that it has been taken up too late and the issue is being raked up for a political purpose ahead of the panchayat polls?

Not just the Polavarm issue, the Naveen Patnaik government is there to raise its voice against anything that adversely affects the interest of the tribal people. We are not against the Polavaram project. Both the Andhra Pradesh and the Centre have hatched a conspiracy against Odisha. While they are getting all the benefits, they have ignored the interests of Odisha. Nearly 6,000 people in 25 villages will be hit by the project. While a case is pending in the Supreme Court, efforts are on to complete the project. What is most painful is that while the UPA government had accorded it the national project status, the NDA government announced to fund 90 per cent of the project cost.

You are talking of protecting the rights of the tribals. But your government is hell bent on handing over the Niyamgiri hills, worshiped by the tribals, to Vedanta. Do you support the move? 

Few organisations are trying to mislead the people on this issue. This is now sub-judice. The government will take a call keeping everything into consideration. But one thing is clear, we need industrialisation for the overall development of the tribal areas.  

You are a second time minister in the Naveen Patnaik government. Do you feel you get proper space to work, because bureaucrats rule the roost in our state…

It’s the ministers who are running the government. It may the people’s perception that bureaucrats are more powerful. But I take my decisions and implement my vision in consultation with my secretaries and other officers. Above all, the chief minister is there to guide us. I am doing my work without any pressure at all.