Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jul 8: 

After a brief lull, two ministers of Odisha Government today raked up the ‘Central neglect’ issue to highlight the alleged apartheid treatment meted out to the State.

sanjay-das-burma

Speaking to reporters, Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Das Burma today alleged that the Union Government intermittently supplies less kerosene than what it should under the agreed quota. The state has overall lost 10,524 kiloliters of kerosene in three phases.

“It is unfortunate that the Union Government is deducting kerosene from the State’s quota in phases. This is unacceptable. It affects the beneficiaries of the state to a large extent,” said Das Burma.

While the state received 4872 kiloliter less this April, in July, this was 4632 kiloliter less. The amount was 1020 kiloliter less last April, he added.

Similarly, Odisha Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy also took on the Union Government and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over their attitude towards agriculture and the farmers.

“We have been deprived of Rs 1002.38 crore from central share in last two years. This has created obstacles to address the concerns of the farmers and agriculture as a whole. The Prime Minister talks big, but does little,” alleged Maharathy.

Providing details, he added, “Rs 221.81 crore has been deducted under Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana, Rs 100.96 crore has been deducted under Integrated Watershed Management Programme and Rs 83.18 crore has been deducted under National Food Security Mission among others this year itself.”

BJP, on the other hand, refuted the charges and said that more money has been given to the State Government in agriculture sector as compared to preceding governments in the Center.

“The State Government has nothing else to do but allege central negligence. They are doing this to mislead the public. The Central Government has not deducted funds. Instead, the overall central funding has increased in agriculture sector. Odisha needs to be protected from the pollution resulting out of kerosene usage. Center is rolling out schemes to ensure that the consumers of the state get more gas (LPG),” said BJP Spokesperson Sajjan Sharma.