Bhubaneswar, Aug. 30: Two senior politicians from Balangir, Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo and his uncle Anang Uday Singhdeo, were seen engaged in a wordy duel in the Odisha Assembly today over the Lower Suktel irrigation project.

The two leaders, who are both scions of the Balangir royal family, not only belong to two rival parties, they also have strained personal relations.

BJP leader Kanak Vardhan alleged that the Lower Suktel irrigation project, which was sanctioned in 1998 by the NDA government at the Centre, was not started yet because of lack of sincerity on the BJD government’s part.

“ Prime minister A.B. Vajpayee had announced the sanction of the project from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi in 1998. At that time, the project cost was Rs 217 crore, which has now escalated to Rs 1,040 crore,” said Kanak Vardhan, who was a minister in the BJD-BJP coalition government till 2009.

This angered his uncle and senior BJD leader Anang Uday, who rose to deny the allegation. “The chief minister and our government have been very serious about implementing the project. The chief minister himself had held review meetings several times in the past. The chief minister had also approved the revised cost of Rs 1,040 crore.”

“People of Balangir also want the project work to start immediately. But some vested interests have been trying to throw spanners in the works to defame the government and play politics,” said the veteran leader, pointing an accusing finger at the Opposition leaders.

“The entire Opposition and people of Balangir want the project. But the government is not sincere,” retorted Kanak Vardhan.

Seven persons have been on hunger strike since August 27 demanding immediate start of the project and two of them have been hospitalised. “But no official has visited them and discussed the matter with the agitators. This speaks of sincerity of the government,” he said.

“If anybody on fast dies, there will be a law and order situation for which the government will be held responsible,” warned the BJP leader.

Congress legislators from Balangir — S.S. Saluja and S.S. Bhoi — who had staged a demonstration outside the Assembly supporting the agitation for the Lower Suktel project, said the project had been accorded administrative approval during the Congress government in 1998.

“The tender was finalised and the work was about to start when the code of conduct was enforced for the 2000 Assembly polls,” said Saluja.

The BJD government, which came to power in 2000, has been sitting on the project for the past 12 years, he alleged.