Bhubaneswar, March 29: The BJP today slammed the BJD for putting pressure on the central public sector undertakings (PSUs) in the state to finance the state government's Aahar scheme.

Under the scheme, scheduled to be launched on April 1, the government will provide rice and dalma for Rs 5 to around 25,000 people in five cities. The government had approached corporate houses and central public sector undertakings to provide assistance under their CSR scheme.

The controversy begun after Mahanadi Coalfields Limited had refused to sponsor the project in Sambalpur. The National Aluminium Company, too, expressed reluctance to join it.

"The chief minister and his party members should know that the CSR is meant for sustainable development in and around industrial projects and not for charity," said BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra here today. He alleged that the BJD was launching the scheme in view of the upcoming municipal elections in Sambalpur and Rourkela. "Had the state government been really serious about the matter, it could have funded on its own," he said.

Referring to the black flag demonstration by BJD activists during the visit of central ministers to Rourkela yesterday, the BJP leader said: "If the youth Congress activists were booked on charges of attempt to murder during the chief minister's visit to Utkal University last month, similar action should have been taken against the BJD workers."

"The CSR funds are meant for development in the affected areas in Talcher and other places. Why should people of Talcher bear the cost the scheme, which will be implemented elsewhere in the state," said BJP leader Kalandi Samal.

BJD spokesman Pratap Keshari Deb said: "If the central PSUs can finance toilet construction under the Swachh Bharat Yojana, why can't they assist a meal scheme for the urban poor?"