Courtsey : Mail Today , Delhi Edition
It’s a long wait to progress
AFTER development, patience is the new buzzword in Bihar. People are beginning to realise that the road to progress is still gutted with potholes and it is impossible even for a regime with apparently good intentions to get past it in full throttle.
The common man on the street who had exulted at the end of the 15- year- long stagnation of the state during the
RJD's ( mis) rule knows it too well now that the only way to seek development is to wait for it with patience, and more patience.
For, close to the end of the third year of “ Vikas Purush” ( development man) Nitish Kumar's tenure, Bihar is still waiting for the myriad schemes to take shape. According to one estimate, the state is likely to be self- sufficient in power only by 2012. The government has begun the process of setting up power plants hoping to generate a whopping 12,000 megawatts in Bihar.
But then, 2012 is a long way off. And the state struggles to generate even 100 MW on its own, thanks to its perenniallysick Kanti and Barauni thermal power plants. Bihar requires around 1,900 MW everyday to meet its demand but it is not able to get more than half of it on an average from the central pool and other sources.
While the realisation of the dreams for a power- surplus Bihar is a leap year away, aspirations to have good roads in the state also need to be kept in check for another couple of years. At present, work on 3,989 km of state highways, 3,734 km of national highways and 8,095 km of district roads is in progress across Bihar but nobody knows the deadline for completion. The CM would be lucky if the projects are completed before the next assembly elections due in 2010. Even privileged residents of Patna will have to wait for at least one more year before they can hope for “ motorable” roads.
The government says shoddy work done by the executing agencies had caused the delay in completion of road projects.
The state government annulled their contract and blacklisted some of the agencies which did sub- standard work. Nitish says he would rather wait for good quality roads than allow unscrupulous contractors get away. Fair enough.
But it is not just state schemes that are progressing at a snail's pace. Railway Minister Lalu Prasad’s numerous railway projects are also not likely to be completed before 2011. The railways have pumped in Rs 52,000 crore for their projects in the state — the Rs 2,000- crore mono rail in Patna, apart from construction of a world class station; then there is the wheeland- axle plant at Chapra, diesel engine unit at Marhowrah, electric locomotive workshop at Madhepura and railway coach factory at Harnaut — but they will not be commissioned before the next Assembly elections.
The state government is showing some urgency, at least on paper, and it has cleared 135 proposals worth Rs 71,289 crore submitted by big entrepreneurs for setting up medium and large industries. But when they will see the light of day remains a million- rupaiya question.
The ruling NDA Government says the 15- years’ misrule of the RJD government had ruined Bihar beyond redemption. But if the pace of development work in the state is any indication, skeptics say the government will probably need another 15 years to set things right. Nitish needs to change gears now.
The common man on the street who had exulted at the end of the 15- year- long stagnation of the state during the
RJD's ( mis) rule knows it too well now that the only way to seek development is to wait for it with patience, and more patience.
For, close to the end of the third year of “ Vikas Purush” ( development man) Nitish Kumar's tenure, Bihar is still waiting for the myriad schemes to take shape. According to one estimate, the state is likely to be self- sufficient in power only by 2012. The government has begun the process of setting up power plants hoping to generate a whopping 12,000 megawatts in Bihar.
But then, 2012 is a long way off. And the state struggles to generate even 100 MW on its own, thanks to its perenniallysick Kanti and Barauni thermal power plants. Bihar requires around 1,900 MW everyday to meet its demand but it is not able to get more than half of it on an average from the central pool and other sources.
While the realisation of the dreams for a power- surplus Bihar is a leap year away, aspirations to have good roads in the state also need to be kept in check for another couple of years. At present, work on 3,989 km of state highways, 3,734 km of national highways and 8,095 km of district roads is in progress across Bihar but nobody knows the deadline for completion. The CM would be lucky if the projects are completed before the next assembly elections due in 2010. Even privileged residents of Patna will have to wait for at least one more year before they can hope for “ motorable” roads.
The government says shoddy work done by the executing agencies had caused the delay in completion of road projects.
The state government annulled their contract and blacklisted some of the agencies which did sub- standard work. Nitish says he would rather wait for good quality roads than allow unscrupulous contractors get away. Fair enough.
But it is not just state schemes that are progressing at a snail's pace. Railway Minister Lalu Prasad’s numerous railway projects are also not likely to be completed before 2011. The railways have pumped in Rs 52,000 crore for their projects in the state — the Rs 2,000- crore mono rail in Patna, apart from construction of a world class station; then there is the wheeland- axle plant at Chapra, diesel engine unit at Marhowrah, electric locomotive workshop at Madhepura and railway coach factory at Harnaut — but they will not be commissioned before the next Assembly elections.
The state government is showing some urgency, at least on paper, and it has cleared 135 proposals worth Rs 71,289 crore submitted by big entrepreneurs for setting up medium and large industries. But when they will see the light of day remains a million- rupaiya question.
The ruling NDA Government says the 15- years’ misrule of the RJD government had ruined Bihar beyond redemption. But if the pace of development work in the state is any indication, skeptics say the government will probably need another 15 years to set things right. Nitish needs to change gears now.
New-look Assembly
BIHAR'S Legislative Assembly is getting a makeover. A New Delhi- based consultant has already come up with a blueprint. The interiors will be redone, to make it more spacious with a central hall, equipped with modern facilities.
The government, however, has stressed no changes will be made to the exterior of the building as it has become a city landmark.
This is the first time since Independence when renovation of the historic building has been planned on such a large scale. The government believes it is the need of the hour. The House does not have permanent facilities for recording of its proceedings.
It has seating arrangements for 324 legislators, which has been reduced to 243, after the state was bifurcated in 2000. The new- look Assembly will have exclusive rooms for state ministers and political parties and will spread over an area of 2.5 lakh square feet.
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