Elections again bring Durgawati project to centre stage

SASARAM: Cometh the elections cometh the Durgawati reservoir project to the centre stage of Sasaram politics. The parliamentary poll 2009 is no
different with candidates of rival political camps leaving no stone unturned to take credit for the project, which is yet to be completed.

The project, foundation stone of which was laid way back in 1972 by late Jagjiwan Ram, entails construction of a reservoir at Karamchak in Rohtas district which would ensure irrigation water for agricultural land in the southern part of Kaimur and Rohtas districts.

BJP candidate Muni Lal claimed that the work on this project has came to a standstill and it was during the NDA rule at the Centre that work was again started and the project reached near completion.

Union minister and Congress candidate Meira Kumar, on the other hand, claimed that she worked day and night for getting clearance from the forest department and Supreme Court to re-start work on the project.

Political turncoat Lalan Paswan, who is contesting the seat on RJD ticket, claims that none, but he made a sincere effort to re-start work on this project and if elected he would ensure its completion in the shortest possible time.

Durgawati project apart, the Sasaram constituency politics is being dominated by local issues only with national issues like nuclear deal, national security and economic slowdown taking a back seat.

What national issues? Sasaram region has been bereft of development and locals can think big only after getting the basic necessities like Bijli, Sadak andPani, said a farmer of Kochas, Jeet Narayan Singh, and added that non-procurement of huge chunk of paddy by the FCI, too, is going to affect the voting.

A trader of Sasaram, Manoj Kumar, echoed Singh and said that power is the biggest issue. Issues apart, this politically sensitive constituency is also likely to witness caste politics taking centre stage at the time of voting.

Caste factor plays a big role in swings of vote and this election is not going to be different, said Jyoti Prakash of Karahgar. According to local political observers, Sasaram constituency is likely to witness a triangular contest among Meira Kumar of Congress, Muni Lal of BJP and Lalan Paswan of RJD. Some locals, however, feel that Gandhi Azad of BSP too cannot be ignored as proximity with Uttar Pradesh would certainly be a plus point for the BSP in this constituency.

Source : Times of India