BJD accuses Centre of step-motherly approach to Orissa

Intensifying its attack on the Centre, ruling BJD in Orissa today accused UPA government of adopting a step-motherly approach towards the state by trying to "stall" Posco and Vedanta projects while approving for the Polavaram dam project in Congress-ruled Andhra Pradesh.

Clearance to Polavaram project in the neighbouring state which is likely to submerge many villages in Orissa's Malkangiri district has exposed Centre's dual policy, senior BJD leaders, including ministers, said at a public meeting here as part of a "Save Orissa Campaign".

"The UPA government has thrown the law into the wind to accord environmental clearance to the multi-purpose Polavoram dam. We condemn this", Orissa's industry minister Raghunath Mohanty said.

In its bid to "derail" our development and progress, UPA government is following different norms for Congress-ruled Andhra Pradesh and BJD-ruled Orissa, finance minister Prafulla Ghadai claimed.

"Sonia Gandhi, the UPA chairperson, had gone a step ahead advocating national status for Polavaram project," he said alleging that the Centre is putting hurdles in industrialisation and stalling mega projects to counter the rising popularity of the Naveen Patnaik government.

"The order to halt project related work for Posco project near Paradip showed the Centre's anti-Orissa policy as it came when land acquisition for the Rs 52,000 crore green field steel mill was on," the leaders said.

Even as BJD workers gathered in large number braving intermittent rains in support of Posco plant, anti-project outfit - Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) held a meeting at Balitutha in the proposed project site to condemn the ruling party's move.

CPI also hit out at the BJD government saying it was unfortunate that the ruling party organised the rally to campaign for Posco project instead of taking steps for controlling spread of cholera and diarrhoea in the state.