Roads, poll on top of report card

Ranchi, July 25: Chief minister Arjun Munda today unveiled his government’s report card in its tenth month of existence, pinning the blame for the failures on the Centre’s alleged step-motherly treatment.

Highlighting the panchayat elections as one of the major achievements of his government, Munda said promoting self-governance and integrated growth of panchayats were important challenges. “This government has already delegated powers to supervise the execution of welfare and development schemes in villages to the panchayat bodies. More such steps will be taken in the coming days,” he declared.

Munda said the groundwork for construction of the Asian Development Bank-funded Govindpur-Sahebganj highway was on in full swing. “Once it is ready, it will be Jharkhand’s gateway to north eastern states, China and Myanmar,” he said.

The chief minister, who assumed charge on September 11 last year, maintained that his government had initiated steps to provide air connectivity to Dumka. Efforts were also on to improve the condition of all national and state highways passing through Giridih, Deoghar and Dumka. Construction of good quality rural roads was being taken care of.

The chief declared that his government would enact three new laws in the monsoon session of the state Assembly. The proposed legislations will help the government fight corruption, provide better services to commoners and promote e-governance at different levels.

“To safeguard the interests of poor tribals, this government intends to bring in a new policy. Safety and welfare of girls, in particular, figured at the top of the government’s priority list,” he said, adding that vacant posts of doctors and paramedics will be filled soon.

Munda made his report card public a day before the BJP’s state executive body meeting got underway in Bokaro, where party leaders were expected to “critically analyse” the functioning of the BJP-led government.

Alleging that the Centre’s attitude was step-motherly, the chief minister said Jharkhand was being denied its due share of CIL and DVC revenue. Repeating the demand for ad valorem royalty on coal, the chief minister said: “The Planning Commission’s standing committee on coal too has observed that injustice was being done to Jharkhand. The state’s share in central taxes too has not been rationalised. In fact, there are over 30 such Centre-sponsored schemes in Jharkhand, which are bleeding the state.”

Referring to the neglect of the Garhi water reservoir project, which was meant to feed NTPC’s North Karnpura thermal power plant, Munda said his government has already spent several crores of rupees on it, but to no avail. “Now, the Union coal ministry is saying that coal reserves are available 300 metres beneath the dam. It should clarify why it approved the plan to construct the dam there in the first place,” he said.

Munda announced that to save electricity, his government intended to give 50 per cent subsidy on compact fluorescent lamps in villages. Around 1,200 villages that were not covered by the Rajeev Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana, would now get power.

Electrification work is already in progress in 120 villages. While expansion of state-owned Tenughat Vidyut Nigam Limited had already been taken up, the action plan to modernise Patratu Thermal was also ready.

The chief minister admitted that the role of DVC, NTPC and JSEB, engaged in supplying power in the state, was often controversial. However, his government was determined to set things right to ensure uninterrupted power supply in every village.

Though he claimed that the law and order situation in the state had improved, Munda remained evasive when asked to comment on the Union home ministry’s order to transfer three superintendents of police. “Sensitive issues involving internal security should not be discussed publicly,” was his answer.

Munda also refused to be drawn into commenting on JMM’s reservations about the functioning of his government. “Working whole-heartedly for the state’s growth is everyone’s responsibility. Be it the ruling alliance or the opposition,” he said.

The chief minister’s report card was the first in a series highlighting the performance of the BJP-JMM-Ajsu government. Tomorrow, deputy chief minister Sudesh Mahto will be making the achievements of the departments overseen by him public followed by deputy chief minister Hemant Soren on July 27. Other ministers will also present their respective report cards by August 6.