Allot land for Bargarh-Nuapada rail line tomorrow, we will start work the next day: Railway Minister to Odisha govt

Padampur: The Centre has approved the railway line project from Bargarh to Nuapada via Padampur and there is no shortage of funds for this purpose, said Union Minister of Railways, Communications & Electronics, and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw today while seeking votes for BJP candidate Pradip Purohit for the December 5 by-election here.

“The project has been delayed due to the failure of the state government to provide land for the proposed railway line. If they can allot the land tomorrow then we have no problem to begin the project work the next day,” said the Railway Minister while addressing two public meetings at Padampur and Paikamal in support of the BJP nominee.

The Railway Minister claimed that BJP nominee Purohit has been fighting for the development of Padampur Assembly segment for last many days. Purohit is also working for the welfare of farmers and Kendu leaf pluckers of Padampur, he said.

“Purohit can put pressure on the state government to allot land for the railway project if he is elected in the bypoll,” added the Railway Minister.

Addressing the public meetings in support of Purohit, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar blamed the state government for delay in the settlement of insurance claims of farmers for crop losses in the Kharif season of 2021.

“The state governments have been authorized to select insurance companies for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. They sign agreements with the insurance firms and provide reports on the crop loss. The farmers across India have received the insurance money without any difficulties. But, the payment of insurance money has been delayed in Odisha due to the anti-farmer activities of the state government,” Tomar claimed.

The Union Minister alleged that the farmers of Bargarh often face problems to sell their paddy to the procurement centres of the state government. “They are selling their produce to private traders at throwaway prices. The state government has cheated the farmers of Bargarh,” Tomar alleged.

The Union Minister urged the voters of the constituency to elect Purohit in the by-election. “Purohit is a farmer leader. He has been raising his voice for the farmers since many days,” he said.

Among others, BJP Odisha unit president Samir Mohanty, Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Jay Narayan Mishra, MPs Suresh Pujari, Basanta Panda and Sangita Singh Deo, and MLAs Mukesh Mahaling, Nauri Nayak and Kusum Tete were present at the public meetings.