Bhubaneswar: The UPA government was working to derail development activities for political reasons and was conspiring against Orissa, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik alleged on Thursday.
"Not a single mega project could be implemented in Orissa due to the politics and conspiracy by the UPA government," Patnaik told a workshop attended by BJD leaders
and workers.
Orissa had been neglected by the Centre on different fronts like railways, mineral royalty and natural calamity assistance, Patnaik alleged.
While the Railways earned Rs 5,000 crore every year from the state, it spent nothing to develop its network here, Patnaik who is the ruling BJD president said.
Patnaik claimed that the state lost about Rs 70,000 crore between 2004 and 2009 due to the `wrong` mineral policy of the Centre.
He pointed out that Orissa received only 45 paise out of Rs 100 for and demanded a fifty percent share from mineral royalty.
Patnaik also held the Centre responsible for not assisting the state during natural calamities. "We are also neglected in availing central funds during calamities."
On the Centre`s claim of sanction of funds, he said "Orissa gets some central funds under the federal system and not on charity."
Patnaik also criticised the Centre for supporting Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh. "The Congress sheds crocodile tears for tribals. The Polavaram project will
inundate tribals villages in Malkangiri district."
The ruling party chalked out a year-long programme of agitation against the Centre demanding justice and cooperation.
PTI
